NHS alert as 14m women at risk of 'hard to diagnose' cancer - signs to spot

The NHS has issued a warning as around 14 million women could be at risk of a “hard to diagnose” disease. According to the health body, women over the age of 50 should look out for the signs of ovarian cancer.

As its name suggests, ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the ovaries. Therefore, anyone with ovaries can be affected.

You can still get ovarian cancer if you've had your ovaries removed because it can also affect your fallopian tubes, or the lining inside your abdomen (peritoneum).

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Ovarian cancer is most prevalent in women over the age of 50. According to Cancer Research UK, it is the sixth most common form of cancer among women in the UK and accounts for more than 4,000 deaths every year.

In a post made to X, the NHS said: “Symptoms of ovarian cancer can be caused by lots of things, which can make it hard to diagnose, but it mostly affects women over the age of 50. It’s important to contact your GP if things don’t feel normal for you, or if any symptoms continue or get worse.”

On its website, the NHS warns that the signs of ovarian cancer are “not always obvious”. This means the disease is often treated “late”.

The main symptoms of ovarian cancer include frequently (roughly 12 or more times a month) having:

• A swollen tummy or feeling bloated
• Pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips (pelvis)
• No appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
• An urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:

• Indigestion
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Back pain
• Feeling tired all the time
• Losing weight without trying
• Bleeding from the vagina after the menopause

You should see a GP if you experience any of these symptoms. The NHS continues: “These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions.

“But it's still important to get them checked by a GP. This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it early can mean it's more treatable.”

It adds: “It's important to get any symptoms of ovarian cancer checked as soon as possible. Finding it early can mean it's more treatable.”