Some 411 women in Ireland are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year.

Wednesday is marking World Ovarian Cancer Day - with 272 Irish women losing their lives every year due to the disease.

Campaigners and patient advocates are advising women across Ireland not to ignore the warning signs.

Ireland ranks among the highest in the world in terms of mortality from ovarian cancer.

A BEAT Ovarian Cancer campaign is highlighting the key signs of the disease, for three weeks or more:

• Bloating that is persistent and doesn't come and go
• Eating less and feeling full more quickly
• Abdominal and pelvic pain you feel most days
• Toilet changes in urination or bowel habits

While a new video from Breakthrough Cancer Research has used the personal experiences of ovarian cancer patients and survivors to highlight the signs and symptoms for women to look out for.

In the video, Clare woman Mary McGrath said: "If I had known 10 years earlier that this IBS was not IBS, I probably would have been caught at stage 2 or 1."

Symptoms of ovarian cancer can be similar to IBS, so it is important to talk to your GP, particularly if you develop IBS symptoms after the age of 50.

Anne Herlihy also shared her story: "I wish I had known. If I could go back and know that that chronic constipation I had for months was a symptom of ovarian cancer, things would be different."

World Ovarian Cancer Day has been marked with free public information events in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Dr Dearbhaile Collins, consultant medical oncologist at Cork University Hospital, said: "The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be confused with other illnesses.

"However, the key difference is that these symptoms are persistent and do not come and go.

"The BEAT campaign is encouraging women to be aware of changes in their stomach, pelvis and abdomen and to speak to a GP where they are concerned.

"Women with a family history of ovarian or breast cancer should be particularly vigilant and mention this to their GP."

Dr Sharon O'Toole is senior research fellow in Trinity College Dublin, working in the area of ovarian cancer.

"Symptoms can be similar to other conditions, which can lead to late stage diagnosis and has led to the disease being known as the 'silent killer'.

"While there have been many advances in the diagnosis and treatment of many other cancers, ovarian cancer has had little improvement in its prognosis over the last 20 years."

To mark World Ovarian Cancer Day, several buildings are 'Lighting Up in Teal' in support of this global initiative - including Cork City Hall, the Convention Centre Dublin, the Mansion House Dublin, the National Concert Hall, Titanic Belfast and University College Cork.