Ovarian cancer symptoms that just 1% of us know

Just one in a hundred women are able to recognise a common symptom of ovarian cancer, a new poll suggests.

A survey of more than 1,000 English women found that just 1 per cent were aware that needing to urinate more is a symptom of the disease.

Meanwhile, four in five were unaware that abdominal pain could be due to the condition, the poll found.

Only 3 per cent were aware that feeling full was a symptom and just a fifth (21 per cent) knew that bloating could be a sign.

Only one in a hundred women knows that excessive urine is a sign of ovarian cancer, file photo

Charity Target Ovarian Cancer is trying to increase awareness of the potentially fatal illness

Charity Target Ovarian Cancer is trying to increase awareness of the potentially fatal illness

Meanwhile, three in 10 wrongly believe that cervical screening detects the condition.

Charity Target Ovarian Cancer is trying to raise awareness of the symptoms to help women get care as early as possible.

It said too few women in England know the warning signs at the moment.

A new report from the charity states that while survival rates have improved in recent years, they still lag behind those for other cancers.

Nearly 3,500 women die of the disease in England every year.

Meanwhile, a separate poll of 304 women with the condition found that 43 per cent had to visit their GP three times or more before being referred for diagnostic tests.

And 46 per cent were initially referred for tests for something other than ovarian cancer.

The charity has called for a national campaign highlighting the symptoms of the condition.

‘There is a chronic lack of awareness and funding for ovarian cancer’, said Target Ovarian Cancer chief executive Annwen Jones.

‘We urgently need a national awareness programme for ovarian cancer and investment in research into new treatments. We have seen enormous advances in other cancers, but ovarian cancer is lagging behind.

‘With investment, we know we could see similar progress.

‘We must act now to transform the lives of women with ovarian cancer before it’s too late.’ 

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