Almost 80% of women in Ireland are not confident that they would notice a symptom of ovarian cancer, a new survey has revealed.

Furthermore, 34% of women mistakenly believe that cervical screening checks for all gynaecological cancers, including ovarian cancer.

Every year in Ireland, around 400 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and almost 300 women die from the disease. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women here after lung, breast and colorectal cancer.

The survey was commissioned by the Irish Network for Gynaecological Oncology (INGO), which is a network of over 30 gynaecological cancer campaigners, researchers and patient advocates.

It found that women’s knowledge of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer varied greatly. A majority of women recognised two of the four main warning signs:

-Around 80% recognised that a persistent pain in the abdomen and/or pelvis could be a sign of the disease

-Around 74% recognised that persistent bloating or an increased abdominal size on most days could be a sign.

However, far fewer women recognised two of the other common symptoms:

-Just 51% recognised that feeling persistently full could be a sign

-Just 39% recognised that difficulty eating on most days could be a sign.

In order to highlight these symptoms, the INGO has launched a campaign to raise awareness and to encourage women to contact their GP if they have any of these symptoms for three weeks or more. The campaign emphasises the BEAT symptoms:

-Bloating that is persistent and does not 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.

The campaign also wants to dispel the myth that cervical screening detects ovarian cancer. The survey found that while around 70% of women knew that this type of screening is for cervical cancer, 34% thought it also checked for the other four types of gynaecological cancer – ovarian, uterine, vulva and vaginal.

There is currently no standard screening test to pick up ovarian cancer in women who do not have symptoms, which is why having a good knowledge of signs and symptoms is so important.

Early diagnosis can significantly improve chances of survival. More than eight in 10 patients diagnosed with stage one ovarian cancer are alive five years after diagnosis compared to just one in six who are diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Meanwhile, the survey also noted that women were unclear about factors that can increase their risk of ovarian cancer. For example, 57% did not believe that it is related to age. However, over 80% of cases occur in women aged 50 and older and the median age when diagnosed is 65.

Furthermore, just 29% believed that genetics is a risk factor.

“Approximately 20% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a genetic reason for their cancer. This information can be important for their treatment. It is also very important for their family members so that they can understand and reduce their ovarian cancer risk,” explained Dr Karen Cadoo, a medical oncologist and cancer geneticist at St James's Hospital in Dublin.

The survey of 522 women aged 18 and older was carried out in April 2023 by Behaviours & Attitudes. It was commissioned by the INGO to mark World Ovarian Cancer Day (May 8).