An expert has warned that some “subtle” symptoms you might easily ignore could be a sign of a life-threatening illness. Many women may experience warning signs of ovarian cancer without even realizing it, according to a gynecologist.

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women in the UK, according to figures from Cancer research in the UK to show. Each year, approximately 7,400 women are diagnosed with the disease.

One of the biggest problems with this type of cancer is that currently more than 75% of cases are diagnosed at a later stage, when the cancer has already spread into the abdomen or beyond. Although treatments have improved significantly, late diagnosis means lower survival rates.

With this in mind, gynecologist Dr Susanna Unsworth warned that ovarian cancer often does not cause significant symptoms until it is already quite advanced.

But she said several subtle symptoms can occur earlier.

Talk to The mirrorshe said: “I encourage you to make an appointment with your GP if you experience them. Many symptoms are subtle and do not mean you have ovarian cancer. But it is worth it. worth having them looked at to hopefully rule out any underlying problems.”

Dr. Unsworth, founder of Cambridge Women’s Health Menopause Clinic and menopause supplement Meno8said the “key symptoms” to look out for are bloating, pain, urinary symptoms and a lump or swelling.

In terms of bloating, this is “new onset bloating, bloating that does not resolve within two to weeks, bloating that occurs frequently without an obvious trigger, and bloating that does not resolve with treatments /usual dietary changes”. Concerning pain, she specifies that you should be wary of “new pain in the pelvis, back or lower abdomen which does not set in quickly”.

Find out what symptoms to watch out for and get health advice with our free Daily Express health newsletter

Dr. Unsworth went on to say that if you notice that you’re urinating “more frequently or feel the need to get up during the night to urinate,” that could be a warning sign. In addition to this, you may also experience a loss of appetite or a feeling of fullness quickly after eating and if you notice a lump or swelling in your lower abdomen or pelvis.

Other symptoms to look out for, listed by the NHS, include persistent indigestion, a change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea), unexplained weight loss, persistent tiredness or abnormal vaginal bleeding.

She explained when to talk to your GP. Dr Unsworth said: “These symptoms can often be quite subtle and many are associated with other common conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. The main thing is to know if the symptoms are new to you, different from your usual symptoms, or unresponsive. to your usual treatments, it then makes sense to have them examined.

“When you see your GP, discuss the symptoms you are experiencing. I also suggest you tell your GP that you are concerned about ovarian cancer.

“As a doctor, it’s much easier for me if I also know what you’re worried about – that way I can fully assess the problem for you, making sure that whatever is done has helped answer to the questions you asked yourself.

“After discussing the symptoms, your GP will probably want to do an examination. This will include an examination of your belly and may also include an internal vaginal exam, as this is the best way to see if there are any swellings around the ovaries.

“In the case of early ovarian cancer, the examination will often be normal, as there may be nothing to feel yet. Therefore, your GP will probably arrange further tests to you, such as a pelvic ultrasound or a Ca125 blood test looking for a protein known as a tumor marker.

Dr Unsworth added: “If any of these tests raise any level of concern, your GP will refer you to a gynecology specialist to arrange further assessment. If the tests are normal, the risk of ovarian cancer is extremely low and other options to manage are possible. symptoms can be recommended.

However, it should be noted that symptoms such as bloating can have many different causes and are not necessarily linked to ovarian cancer. The NHS says: “These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions.

“But it’s still important to get them checked out by a GP. This is because if they are caused by cancer, catching it early can mean it is more treatable.”