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Katherine Taylor, Chief Executive of Ovarian Cancer Action, explained that there is no screening for ovarian cancer - and it cannot be detected in a cervical smear.
If your GP suspects ovarian cancer they may arrange a number of tests.
These can include:
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Physical examination
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CA125 blood test
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Pelvic ultrasound scan
If these tests suggest that you may have ovarian cancer then further tests will need to be conducted to confirm that this is the case.
If your doctor doesn’t suspect ovarian cancer but you do, you should ask for a CA125 blood test, to rule it out in the first instance.
Speaking about the lack of a screening method, Katherine Taylor said: “Until a more robust screening method is available it’s important that women keep an eye out for the signs and symptoms and visit their doctor if they suspect anything is wrong.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are:
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persistent bloating
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persistent tummy pain
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needing to wee more often
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not being able to eat much or feeling full more quickly
Find out more about the symptoms of ovarian cancer here.
Katherine added: “If you experience any of these, we recommend keeping a symptoms diary to take along to the GP as this will help you get to the bottom of the problem more quickly.”
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