Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women in the UK. It can be difficult to detect early because symptoms are often vague and easily attributed to other, less serious conditions.
Symptoms that may warrant investigation include:
- Persistent bloating that does not come and go
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Needing to urinate more frequently
CA 125 is a protein found at elevated levels in the blood of many women with ovarian cancer. It is used as a tumour marker to support diagnosis and to monitor response to treatment. However, CA 125 can also be raised in non-cancerous conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids and pelvic inflammatory disease, so it is interpreted alongside imaging and clinical findings.
Causes of Ovarian cancer
The exact cause of ovarian cancer is not fully understood. It develops when cells in or around the ovaries acquire genetic mutations that cause uncontrolled growth.
Factors that increase risk include:
- Age, with most cases occurring in women over 50, particularly after the menopause
- Family history of ovarian or breast cancer, especially involving BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations
- Endometriosis
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is associated with a small increase in risk
- Never having been pregnant or having children later in life
Factors that appear to reduce risk include having used the combined oral contraceptive pill, having had children and breastfeeding.
Tests that can help check this condition
Learn more on the official NHS page .
