Ovareactions

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’, but it shouldn’t be. Despite what many people think, there are symptoms that present at the early stages of the disease. Recognising them and understanding them is crucial for early diagnosis. By the time many women are diagnosed, it’s too late.

Ovacome, an ovarian cancer support charity, have a handy acronym to help remember the most common symptoms.

Bloating that doesn’t come and go

Eating difficulty and feeling full more quickly

Abdominal and pelvic pain you feel most days

Toilet changes in urination or bowel habits

If someone had asked me before my diagnosis to name just one symptom of ovarian cancer, I wouldn’t have been able to. And I wouldn’t be the only one. Just one in five UK women can name bloating as one of the main symptoms of ovarian cancer and 40% of women wrongly think a smear test detects ovarian cancer.

In hindsight, I did have symptoms. I was bloated to the point that a few friends and family members have since admitted that they thought I was pregnant. Sorry to disappoint you all; it was a tumour, not a baby. I had noticed my clothes getting tighter but just assumed I’d put on weight. If I’d been paying more attention to my body, I might have noticed that the weight gain was localised to my abdomen and I might have realised there was something else going on.

I was also getting up multiple times in the night to pee. Lambros and I joked that I needed a ‘tea curfew’, assuming that post-8pm cuppas were the sole cause. Eating was a challenge too. I’d eat a few mouthfuls of my dinner and feel full. I remember being like ‘hmm, weird’ and then just carrying on with my life, totally oblivious.

At no point did I connect any of these things and I don’t know if I ever would have. And even if I had been concerned and gone to my GP, there’s every chance they wouldn’t have recognised the symptoms as ovarian cancer. Because I wasn’t keeping track of my symptoms, it’s hard to tell how long I was experiencing them for. Experts advise seeking medical advice if symptoms are frequent (they usually happen more than 12 times per month), persistent (they don’t go away), and new (they’re not normal for you).

I never thought I’d say I was lucky my tumour ruptured but if it hadn’t, there’s no doubt things would have been very different. Ovarian cancer tends to take hold and spread very quickly. I would have been looking at a very different outcome. So this is my plea to all you people with ovaries out there. Know what’s normal for you. Listen to your body, it’s pretty good at telling you when something’s not quite right.