According to Cancer Research UK, ovarian cancer is responsible for approximately 4227 deaths in the UK (2016)¹. Early diagnosis can often increase the chances of survival, however there is still a stigma attached to the disease due to the sensitive nature of the subject. Therefore one of the biggest challenges is to get women to overcome their fear and embarrassment and talk about their symptoms.

It’s really important for women to be aware of the early signs of ovarian cancer and get checked out so you are in a perfect position to highlight the help available. Let’s explore more about ovarian cancer and how you can become confident in having these conversations.

Objectives

On completing this module, you will be able to understand:

• Ovaries and the reproductive system
• What is cancer?
• What is ovarian cancer?
• Who is at risk?
• Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer
• Treatment options
• Support services
• Linking to a health promotion
• Further reading

^{1 https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/ovarian-cancer}