Ovarian cancer symptoms (cancer of the ovary)

goodtoknow says: One in 40 women in the UK will get ovarian cancer, usually aged between 50 and 80. Early ovarian cancer symptoms are vague, and sometimes not gynaecological.

Symptoms can be similar to IBS but they do exist and 90 percent of people get them for up to a year before they're diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Symptoms include stomach pain, increased need to urinate, back pain change in bowel habits, unexplained bleeding and painful sex. If ovarian cancer is found soon enough, surgery may be all that's needed. If cancer cells remain, chemotherapy will also be given.

Dr Pixie McKenna from Channel 4's embarrassing bodies, said: 'Ovarian cancer is not an easy condition to detect or routinely screen for, and cervical smear tests do not cover this disease. But thankfully there are clear symptoms even from the earliest stages, which mean women have a much better chance of treating it successfully.

'I would certainly ask women not to neglect their bodies, you may be ignoring the warning signs that something is not quite right.'

For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of ovarian cancer from patient.co.uk, read on. Most cases of ovarian cancer (cancer of the ovary) develop in women over the age of 50. The cause is not clear. Some ovarian cancers can be cured. In general, the more advanced the cancer (the more it has grown and spread), the less chance that treatment will be curative. However, treatment can often slow the progress of the cancer. Some women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer may benefit from regular screening.

- Next: What are the ovaries?