Ovarian Cancer & Periods: Symptoms To Watch For

No matter your age, the ‘C’ word is scary. Cancer research has come a long way, but in the UK ovarian cancer will still affect as many as 7,500 people a year, so instead of burying our heads in the sand on this topic we thought we’d focus on sharing the signs and symptoms to improve everyone’s chances of early intervention. Ovarian cancer and periods are pretty closely related, so here’s everything you need to know…

What is ovarian cancer?

Our bodies are made up of billions of cells, and these cells group together to make our tissues and organs… so they’re pretty essential! Cells typically divide in order to replace older cells, but when this process goes wrong the cell continues dividing until it forms a tumour. These can either be benign (non-cancerous = won’t spread) or malignant (cancerous = can spread). 

Ovarian cancer occurs when these abnormal cells develop in the ovary and eventually form a tumour. Like many other types of cancer, if this is not discovered early it can spread to other tissues nearby and other parts of the body, making it more difficult to treat. 

Are there different types?

Yes, there are several types of ovarian cancer, which include:

• Epithelial ovarian cancer - The most common, affecting around 90% of ovarian cancer cases. This is similar to primary peritoneal cancer and fallopian tube cancer, and these are often treated in a similar way
• Germ cell ovarian tumours - This type is rare, and typically affects young people with ovaries up to their early thirties
• Sex cord stromal tumours (SCSTs) - These can be cancerous or non-cancerous
• Borderline ovarian tumours - These are abnormal cells that develop in the tissue covering the ovary. They’re usually non-cancerous and treated with surgery

What are the chances of developing ovarian cancer? 

In the UK, around 7,500 people are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, which makes it the 6th most common type for people with ovaries. Often, cancer survival rates are calculated by looking at how many people survive for 5 years after diagnosis, and in the case of ovarian cancer this is 49.1%. 

While this may seem like a worrying number, it’s also important to know that if ovarian cancer is found and treated early (still in stage 1) then the 5-year survival rate is 94%, proving early diagnosis and treatment is key, and knowing the signs and symptoms to watch out for can give you extra peace of mind. 

Who is most likely to develop ovarian cancer? 

If you’re wondering what risk factors apply to you, there are two main ones. The first, like with many other types of cancer, is age. People over 50 have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer; the majority of cases are found in those who have already gone through menopause, and more than half occur in people over 65. 

If you are younger, it’s not as common but it does still happen, mainly due to family history of a similar type of cancer. Around 15-20% of cases are believed to be caused by an inherited gene, often the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, so if a close relative has had breast or ovarian cancer, you may be at a higher risk. 

However! You shouldn’t consider this an inevitability, because 80-85% of ovarian cancer cases are not inherited, so just because your relative has had it doesn’t mean you definitely will. There are a few other risk factors, like diabetes, use of hormone replacement therapy, endometriosis and smoking, but the most common come from age and family history.

What symptoms do I need to watch out for? 

We never want to scaremonger with symptoms, but we believe recognising symptoms in advance means if anything seems different in your body, you can notice it straight away and get early treatment. In the case of ovarian cancer, noticeable early symptoms can be difficult to detect, but they usually include: 

• Swelling or bloating in the abdomen 
• Pelvic pain or discomfort
• Feeling full very quickly after eating, or an upset stomach 
• Losing weight
• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Pain during sex 
• Changes in bowel movements, and/or needing to urinate more frequently 
• Changes to your period, such as heavier or irregular bleeding

I think I have symptoms - what should I do?

If you experience some of the symptoms above or you are at a higher risk of ovarian cancer, visit your GP to get checked. Better safe than sorry applies in this case, and although it’s most likely nothing to worry about, you should never feel embarrassed to see your doctor for whatever is worrying you. 

How is ovarian cancer treated? 

Treatment for ovarian cancer depends on a few different factors, such as where the cancer is located, what stage of growth it’s at, the specific type of cancer, and your personal health, medical history and fitness levels. 

If surgery is recommended, this can involve the removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix and/or womb. Some or all of these organs can be removed, depending on how far advanced the cancer is. If it has spread elsewhere, further surgery may be required. Other things that may be recommended either on their own or alongside surgery are chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone treatments and more. 

Is there anything I can do to prevent it? 

Unfortunately, there are currently no guaranteed ways to prevent ovarian cancer, but birth control pills have been found to reduce the risk. Contraceptives don’t suit everyone, so you’ll need to weigh the benefits vs potential side effects with your GP, but if you are particularly worried about developing ovarian cancer (whether due to your age or family history) then it may be worth having this discussion with your doctor. 

Also, telling your doctor about any family history means they can make the best recommendation for your specific situation, such as going ahead with genetic testing to determine your risk and potentially consider preventative surgery. 

Cancer is a tricky subject! We hope we’ve answered any questions you have about ovarian cancer, but if you have any other queries or concerns, you can talk to us and others in our Full Stop FB group, or get in touch with us directly on Instagram at @itsyoppie. Don't forget that our personalised menstrual care subscription can get organic tampons, PMS supplements and much more delivered easily and regularly through your letterbox, so that's one less thing to worry about with everything that can be going on down there.