Ovarian cancer diagnosis

At what stage is ovarian cancer usually diagnosed?

More than 75% of affected women are diagnosed at an advanced stage because early-stage disease is usually asymptomatic, and symptoms of late-stage disease are nonspecific.

Ovarian cancer is diagnosed at one of four stages. The stage describes big a cancer is and how far the cancer has spread inside the body – the higher the stage the further the cancer has progressed.

At what age are people with ovarian cancer usually diagnosed?

The risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with age, with more than half of all cases in the UK in women aged 65 and over. While older females are more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, younger females can develop it too.

You may have a higher chance of getting ovarian cancer if you:

• Inherited a faulty gene, such as BRCA genes or those linked to Lynch syndrome (see below)
• Had breast cancer or bowel cancer
• Had radiotherapy treatment for a previous cancer
• Have endometriosis or diabetes
• Started your periods at a young age or went through the menopause late (over 55), or have not had a baby – because these factors may mean you’ve released more eggs (ovulate more)
• Have never used any hormonal contraception, such as the pill or an implant
• Are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Are overweight
• Smoke

It’s still possible to get ovarian cancer even if you’ve had your ovaries removed. This is because ovarian cancer can also affect your fallopian tubes, or the lining inside your tummy (peritoneum).

Genetic testing and ovarian cancer

If you have used our risk tool and suspect your family history puts you at increased risk of cancer, we strongly recommend that you make an appointment to see your GP to discuss your situation further. You can read more on what to expect at the GP, the genetics clinic and managing the possible results of testing here.

Misdiagnosis of ovarian cancer

Other chronic conditions including irritable bowel syndrome and the menopause share symptoms with ovarian cancer such as bloating. This crossover means that there is a real danger of misdiagnosing the disease and often a far more serious diagnosis is overlooked.

I’ve just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, now what?

If you've been told you have ovarian cancer, you usually need more tests. These, along with the tests you've already had, will help the specialists find out the size of the cancer and how far it's spread (called the stage) to help inform the best course of treatment for you.