Though 7,000 UK women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, many of us are unaware of the symptoms.

One in 50 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime, making it the fifth most common cancer for females. But the disease can be tricky to detect as the symptoms can be easily passed off as other conditions.

It’s often thought of as a ‘symptom-less’ cancer. However, there are actually several early warning signs that, if spotted, could make a crucial difference to treatment, as Dr Sharon Tate, public affairs manager for the Target Ovarian Cancer charity, stresses during Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

When caught early, ovarian cancer can be treated successfully in 70% of cases. The symptoms for ovarian cancer can be very similar to those of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Therefore it’s crucial to recognise what is normal for your body and if you are noticing changes, head to your GP to check that nothing irregular is happening.

“The four main symptoms that women should look out for are persistent pain in the tummy or pelvis, persistent bloating, urinary problems – which could mean feeling like you need to wee more often than normal – and also feeling full or difficulty eating,” says Tate.

“There are also other less common symptoms like changes to bowel habits, extreme fatigue and weight loss. A lot of women experience these symptoms every month with their period, or if they have food intolerances, so it’s important to bear in mind any new symptoms you have.”

Unlike other illnesses which could bring on similar symptoms to the ones outlined above, with ovarian cancer the symptoms are consistent and don’t ease over time. It might be helpful to keep track of your symptoms, if you're unsure, and make a note of them before making an appointment with your GP.

“It’s worth remembering that the symptoms for ovarian cancer are persistent,” says Tate. “By persistent I mean something that doesn’t go away and doesn’t fluctuate like, say, period pain does. These are symptoms that occur more than 12 times a month.

“Write down the symptoms, the intensity of them and how frequently they occur. Then when you go to your GP, take your diary with you as it can help talk through the changes you’re experiencing.”

At present, there isn’t a routine screening programme in place for ovarian cancer. Many women mistakenly think that their smear (for cervical cancer) will catch ovarian cancer too but this isn’t the case.

“In most cases, ovarian cancer affects women over the age of 50, many of whom will have gone through the menopause,” says Tate. “But while it is unusual, it does affect younger women too.”

As with many cancers, lifestyle factors, such as having a poor diet and smoking, may also lead to an increased risk. However, this isn’t always the case and any woman could potentially be affected.

l For more information about ovarian cancer, visit targetovariancancer.org.uk