Ovarian Cancer Support Group

Persistent bloating identified as common ovarian cancer sign
20 Jun 08

Ovarian cancer is not a silent killer, but is marked in the majority of cases by distinct and recognisable symptoms, a UK study concludes.

As many as 86% of women diagnosed by a specialist with ovarian cancer turned out to have had persistent distension of the abdomen in advance of referral, the researchers found.

But fluctuating distension was only present in 4.5% of cancer cases, although the distinction was not reflected in self-reported symptoms. Women themselves simply said they had bloating.

The researchers advised that questioning women in detail when they presented complaining of bloating could drive up pick-up rates for the disease.

Study author Dr Clare Bankhead, a research lecturer in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, said the take-home message was a simple one. ‘Often the woman would present with bloating and the GP would say let’s wait and see how it goes.

‘But these results show if a woman presents with bloating – which is very common – GPs should probe if its persistent. It doesn’t have to be a large distension – just persistent.’

Presence of persistent abdominal distension raised the risk of ovarian cancer five-fold, whereas fluctuating symptoms did not raise risk at all.

Postmenopausal bleeding was associated with a nine-fold increased risk, appetite loss a three-fold increase and quickly feeling full a five-fold increase. The results are published in the journal BJOG.
Posted on 06/21/08, 05:06 am