A CANCER expert has urged women to be watchful for the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Consultant cancer specialist Dr Martin Hogg from BMI The Beardwood Hospital said that remaining vigilant and knowing the signs was a key factor in women seeking an early diagnosis.

Ovarian cancer - which affects the ovaries producing hormones and eggs - is the most fifth most common cancer, with more than 7,100 new diagnoses in the UK each year.

It is more common in women who have been through the menopause and in women whose own relatives have also had it.

The symptoms are: difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, persistent stomach pain, persistent bloating, needing to urinate more often and changes to bowel habits.

Consultant Dr Hogg said: “Sometimes these symptoms are dismissed by the woman because they are a bit vague, and indeed are not necessarily due to cancer.

"However, if they persist, become frequent or are getting worse – or new or unusual for the woman - then it makes sense to get these checked.”

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and the charity Target Ovarian Cancer is keen to highlight that early detection of the signs and early diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer are essential factors in treatment success rates.

For more information about ovarian cancer, visit https://www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/treatments/cancer-care/ovarian-cancer