The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland launched an ovarian cancer awareness campaign for March. The initiative highlights symptoms and encourages women to contact their GP promptly.

Health records show 1,019 cases of ovarian cancer, including fallopian tube cases, diagnosed in Northern Ireland from 2018 to 2022. This averages around 200 cases each year.

Dr Tracy Owen, Deputy Director of Public Health at the agency, noted that the disease occurs more often in women past menopause, typically over age 50, though younger women can develop it. Many women remain unaware of the signs, which delays medical visits.

Dr Owen stated that early detection improves treatment outcomes and survival rates. Symptoms include persistent bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency or frequency, when they occur more than 12 times monthly, last over time, and represent a recent change.

The agency advises that such symptoms warrant a GP check, even if not serious. Risk reduction steps include using contraception, having children, breastfeeding, and avoiding hormone replacement therapy after menopause.