THE plight of reality TV star Jade Goody has raised awareness of one kind of female cancer, but women are surprisingly ignorant about another that is much more likely to kill them.

Research for the charity Ovarian Cancer Action found that only eight per cent of women knew the correct symptoms of the disease, which affects around 6,800 women a year in the UK.

And an earlier study highlighted that a lot of women muddle the symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer with those for cervical cancer – the kind Jade has – and sexually transmitted infections.

The difference is that ovarian cancer is not linked to sexual activity; is not detected with smear tests; and is much more common than cancer of the cervix.

Among those who died of the disease are comediennes Linda Smith and Gilda Radner, actor Nigel Havers’ wife Polly, and the mothers of both Barack Obama and Angelina Jolie.

If ovarian cancer is picked up in its early stages, women have a 90 per cent chance of surviving the disease for five years. But at the moment, two out of three cases are diagnosed only after the disease has spread beyond the ovary, limiting treatment options and cutting the UK survival rate to around 30 per cent, a statistic that has not improved much in the last 20 years.

Specialist surgeon Jeremy Evans, who works at the Royal Bournemouth and Poole Hospitals, pointed out that ovarian cancer was responsible for more deaths than all the other gynaecological cancers put together, around 4,400 a year.

And with Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month now underway, he hopes women will seek prompt medical advice if they have symptoms such as pain in the abdomen and pelvis, persistent bloating, difficulty eating, feeling full quickly, having to pass urine frequently, changes in bowel habit, extreme fatigue and back pain.

“Ninety per cent of ovarian cancers occur in women over 50. Those that are young generally present earlier and generally do better,” said Mr Evans.

“We don’t know what causes it, but 1.5 per cent of women are at risk. If they have a first-degree relative with ovarian cancer, the risk goes up to about three per cent.

“When you start to bring in associated relatives with early onset breast cancer, you start to think more about whether there is a hereditary element.”

Women who have the a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which can also cause breast cancer, have a 50 per cent lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Those judged to be at significant risk can be given genetic counselling and testing.

If they are thinking of having a family, they could be advised to have their children early before having their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.

Other risk factors for ovarian cancer include fertility problems, having the first baby after 30 or not having children at all.

Research is going on to try and find an effective way of screening women for ovarian cancer. A trial of scanning and blood tests is due to report back next year.

Mr Evans reflected: “In many ways, cervical cancer is sorted. With the vaccine and screening, it’s going to be relatively rare.

“The big challenge is ovarian cancer.”

For more information on ovarian cancer, see the website ovariancanceraction.org.uk or ring 020 8238 7615.

Mr Evans will be giving a free talk on Understanding Women’s Cancers on March 30 at the Village Hotel near the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Places must be booked by ringing 01202 704271 or emailing events@rbch.nhs.uk.