Rochdale consultant backs Ovarian Cancer Awareness campaign

With Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month running throughout March, the charity Target Ovarian Cancer is launching The 50s Challenge – encouraging women to learn the symptoms and to tell 50 other people about them.

Mr Olubusola Amu, a Consultant Gynaecologist at BMI Highfield Hospital in Rochdale, says that early diagnosis makes a massive difference to survival rates.

Ovarian Cancer is estimated to cause 4,300 deaths in the UK every year yet - according to the charity Target Ovarian Cancer - only three per cent of women are confident of spotting symptoms of the disease.

Figures supplied by Cancer Research UK show that more than 90% of women diagnosed with early stage ovarian cancer survive their disease for at least five years. This figure drops to around 6% for those women diagnosed with the most advanced Stage 4 disease.

Said Mr Amu: “These figures speak for themselves about the importance of spotting the cancer early. This can only be done by more and more women becoming aware of the warning symptoms of ovarian cancer and acting swiftly by reporting to their GP or seeking medical advice.

“GPs also need to know what to rule out, so they can send women for the right diagnostic tests as soon as possible. Only with increased awareness of the symptoms can we increase early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.”

The following symptoms if frequent (they usually happen more than 12 times a month) and persistent can raise suspicion of ovarian cancer, and these include:

• Abdominal swelling, distention and feeling bloated 
• Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly 
• Pain or discomfort in the lower tummy area 
• Unexplained or extreme tiredness
• Unexplained weight loss
• Back pain
• Changes in your bowel habits (diarrhoea or constipation)
• Needing to pass urine more often or more urgently 
• Pain during sex 

Mr Amu explained: “The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often similar to those of other less serious but more common conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. 
“However the increased frequency and persistency of the symptoms are what help to distinguish between ovarian cancer and other conditions.

“My advice is that if you think you spot a symptom visit your GP and discuss it with them openly. If they don’t mention ovarian cancer then you should – your life could depend upon it.”

For more details visit www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/our-campaigns/ovarian-cancer-awareness-month