According to the charity Ovarian Cancer Action, a woman has a 95% chance of surviving ovarian cancer when diagnosed early. That’s more than double the average ovarian cancer survival rate, because more than 50% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
With earlier detection leading to better prognoses, being aware of the early signs can be life-saving – as GP and women’s health advocate Dr Nighat Arif knows firsthand.
Posting on Instagram, Dr Arif explained that she had recently “had to unlearn quite a lot of things that I had believed as a doctor”. One being “that ‘ovarian cancer can only be picked up in its late stages’”.
“I picked up ovarian cancer in its early stages in a 28 year old – and this isn’t a bragging post,” Dr Arif noted. “Upon reflection, I did make a few mistakes and I’m humble enough to put up my hands and say that not everything went smoothly with this patient – and I’ve got consent from her to share this.”
She continued: “The reason I’m making this post is to let you know that it possible to pick up ovarian cancer early if you know the symptoms early enough,” she adds.
Dr Arif went on to highlight the “four main ovarian cancer symptoms that should never be missed,” which we’ve shared below. “Pay attention to them because early detection can actually save your life,” she concluded.
READ MORE: Cancer Doctors Reveal The 12 Symptoms They Would Never Ignore
The 4 Main Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer
1. Persistent bloating
Not bloating that comes and goes. Rather, “it’s persistent and lasts longer than three weeks,” she said.
2. Difficulty eating or feeling full more quickly
“Again, this doesn’t come and go,” she explained. “It’s something that lasts longer and is persistent for more than three weeks.”
3. Needing to pee more frequently
“This is something that’s never happened to you before – but suddenly, you’re feeling a pressure over your bladder and you urgently need to go and pass urine all the time,” Dr Arif explained.
4. Pain in the stomach and upper thighs
“Feeling pressure in your lower back and also around your thighs” that you’ve never had before is another symptom, Dr Arif added.
If any of these symptoms feel familiar to you or anybody you know, book a doctor’s appointment to get checked, she said. “Age is never the barrier/determining factor for picking up ovarian cancer early.”
READ MORE: “I Conquered Ovarian Cancer And Breast Cancer At The Same Time.”
Other Potential Signs Of Ovarian Cancer
Other symptoms to look out for, Dr Arif adds, include:
- Feeling exhausted
- Losing weight without trying
- Lower-back pain
- More irritable
- Sleeping a lot more
- No energy levels
“There are simple tests that can be done to detect ovarian cancer early such as a transvaginal ultrasound scan and a blood test called CA125, which might be some of the first investigations that your doctor might want to think about,” explained Dr Arif.
“It’s important to know a CA125 and ultrasound scan can come back normal,” she noted. “So if the tests are normal – still continue to track the symptoms and depending on the symptoms, risk factors, etc, a referral to a gynaecologist might be needed for further investigations such as CT, MRI or an ovarian biopsy (a procedure where a small sample of tissue from the ovary is removed to check for abnormalities, most commonly to diagnose or stage ovarian cancer).”
And if you’re worried about whether your symptoms are “serious” enough to seek help? “You’re not wasting anyone’s time,” Dr Arif stressed. “GPs like myself and my colleagues want to hear from you. Ask about ovarian cancer specifically and keep a note of your symptoms.”
Source: https://www.womenshealthsa.co.za/health/feed
