Ireland has the highest mortality rate from ovarian cancer in Europe, according to a report from the National Cancer Registry.
Today, on the first world ovarian cancer day, awareness is being raised about the West's 'silent killer'.
In Ireland, an average of 376 new cases present each year.
That makes us the 4th highest for incidents of the cancer, of 30 countries surveyed between 1994 and 2010.
Symptoms include increased abdominal size and persistent bloating along with abdominal pain, and women are asked to be aware of these conditions.
Sharon O'Toole is a scientist doing research in the area in Trinity College Dublin.
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Ovarian cancer is diagnosed annually in nearly a quarter of a million women globally, and is responsible for 140,000 deaths each year. Statistics show that just 45% of women with ovarian cancer are likely to survive for five years compared to up to 89% of women with breast cancer.
Symptoms
Experts now believe it is the frequency and combination of symptoms that can help doctors distinguish between ovarian cancer and other conditions. If a woman experiences one or more of the following symptoms on most days within a three week period, they should discuss their concerns with their doctor:
· Increased abdominal size / persistent bloating (not bloating that comes and goes)
· Difficulty eating/feeling full quickly
· Abdominal or pelvic pain
· Needing to pass urine more urgently or more frequently
Women with ovarian cancer are most likely to have one or more of the above symptoms on a frequent basis. There can be other symptoms too, including change in bowel habits, abnormal vaginal bleeding, fatigue, and unexpected weight loss or weight gain around the abdomen.
Dr Noreen Gleeson, Gynaecological Oncologist at St James Hospital and a member of the medical panel of ovarian cancer charity OvaCare welcomed the global initiative and its aim to raise awareness of ovarian cancer in Ireland. "Currently, unlike cervical cancer, there is no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer. Although ovarian cancer can be a deadly disease, if it is diagnosed at the earliest stage it can be treated effectively with surgery and chemotherapy, leading to survival rates of up to 90%. If we are to improve on poor outcomes for our women, ovarian cancer needs to be detected earlier. That means that women and GPs need to be on the lookout for early signs and symptoms. The National Cancer Control Programme are currently putting measures in place to address the poor outcomes in Ireland and we look forward to the implementation of these at the earliest possible opportunity."
World Ovarian Cancer Day is being promoted in Ireland by three Ovarian Cancer charities OvaCare, Supporting Ovarian Cancer Knowledge (SOCK) and the Emer Casey Foundation which provide vital nationwide support services for those affected by ovarian cancer as well as funding research with the DISCOVARY consortium.
