Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women and, while it tends to affect females over the age of 45 more than it does those of child-bearing age, it's of course not unheard of to occur in young women too.

With March being Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we thought we'd team up with gynaecological cancer charity, The Eve Appeal, to share all the must-know information about the disease so you're clued up on how to spot the signs.

1. Ovarian cancer isn't 'silent'

One of the biggest myths is that ovarian cancer is that it is a 'silent disease' - but this is rarely the case. Many women have been presenting symptoms long before they seek help, they just aren't aware of what the symptoms are.

2. But its symptoms can be subtle

There are four key ovarian cancer symptoms:

  • Increased abdominal size and persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
  • Persistent pelvic and abdominal pain
  • Unexplained change in bowel habits (as well as needing to pee more frequently)
  • Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly, or feeling sick.

3. Symptoms should be persistent before you start to worry

If you're experiencing constant bloating that lasts longer than three weeks, for example, you need to go and check it out.

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4. A smear test can't detect ovarian cancer

This is a common misconception. Smear tests are vitally important, but they won't detect ovarian cancer - they're only designed to spot changes to the cervix.

5. It's the sixth most common cancer in women

Around 7,300 women are diagnosed with cancer of the ovary every year and tragically, 11 of those women die each day.

6. There are several different types of ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common form, whereas germ cell and stromal ovarian cancers are much more rare:

  • Epithelial ovarian cancer (epithelial ovarian tumours) comes from cells on the surface of the ovary
  • Fallopian tube cancer - it's recently been discovered that many ovarian cancers start here
  • Germ cell ovarian cancer (germ cell ovarian tumours) begins in the egg-producing cells within the body of the ovary
  • Stromal ovarian cancer (sex cord stromal tumours) starts from the cells that hold the ovaries together

7. Germ cell ovarian cancer is more common in younger women

Although it's rare for an ovarian tumour to start from cells within the ovary, when it does occur, it tends to affect teenagers more than any other age group.

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8. Ovarian cancer can be hereditary

If you have two or more close relatives (i.e. mother, sister, daughter) who have developed ovarian or breast cancer, your risk of also developing the disease may be increased.

9. You're probably at a lower risk if you take the pill

Every time an egg is released from your ovary, its surface breaks and is subsequently damaged. While it does repair itself, this renewed cell growth gives a frequent opportunity for abnormal (cancerous) cells to grow in place of regular cells. Women who take the pill don't release eggs every month, hence their ovaries are less frequently damaged and the risk of developing cancerous cells is likely to be lower.

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10. Multiple pregnancies and breastfeeding can also reduce risk

Similarly to above, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding don't release eggs. So the more times they're pregnant or breastfeeding, the less opportunity there is for abnormal cancerous cells to grow.

11. There are different ways of diagnosing it

Your GP will first feel your abdomen for any signs of a tumour, and then they may refer you for a blood test or an ultrasound for a diagnosis. An ultrasound will assess the ovaries themselves, while the blood test will seek out levels of a protein called CA125. High levels of this enzyme can be an indicator of ovarian cancer.

12. Treatment usually involves both chemotherapy and surgery

If you undergo surgery, you may have either a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or a total abdominal hysterectomy. The former is the removal of both ovaries along with the fallopian tubes, whereas the latter is the removal of the womb, which would leave you unable to carry children naturally.

Find out more about ovarian cancer on The Eve Appeal's website.

From: Cosmopolitan UK