Referral to a specialist for symptoms of ovarian cancer

Your GP should arrange for you to see a specialist if you have one or more of the following:

• a lump in your tummy (abdomen) or pelvis, that is not fibroids

• a build up of fluid (ascites) in your abdomen

• an ultrasound scan result that shows a lump or abnormal area that could be ovarian cancer

Your GP should arrange some tests if you have certain symptoms, especially if you are aged 50 or older. You should have tests if you have any of the following symptoms that don’t go away. Or if they happen regularly - particularly if they happen more than 12 times per month:

• swelling or bloating of your tummy

• loss of appetite and, or feeling full quickly

• pain in your tummy or pelvis

• needing to pee more often than usual (frequency) or more suddenly than usual (urgency)

You should have tests if you’re aged 50 or over and have had symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the last 12 months. This is because IBS rarely develops for the first time in women over 50 years old. IBS can cause a broad range of symptoms. The most common are diarrhoea, constipation, or changing from one to the other. Also bloating and swelling of the tummy.

Your GP might also offer you tests if you have:

• lost weight and this can’t be explained

• tiredness that can’t be explained

• changes in bowel habit (for example constipation or diarrhoea) that can’t be explained

What tests will I have if I have symptoms?

Aged 39 and under

You should have an ultrasound scan of your tummy or pelvis. This should be within 2 weeks.

Your GP should refer you to a specialist if your ultrasound scan shows a lump or abnormal area that could be ovarian cancer.

Your GP will ask you to come back if your symptoms continue or happen more often, even if your scan looks normal.

Aged 40 or over

You should have a CA125 blood test.

You should then have an ultrasound scan of your tummy (abdomen) and pelvis if your CA125 level is raised.

Your GP should refer you to a specialist if your ultrasound scan shows a lump or abnormal area that could be ovarian cancer.

Your GP will ask you to come back if your symptoms continue or happen more often, even if your scan looks normal.

In Northern Ireland the guidance groups together the symptoms of:

• cervical cancer

• ovarian cancer

• vaginal cancer

• vulval cancer

• womb cancer

You should have an urgent referral to see a specialist if:

• your doctor thinks you may have cervical cancer following an examination, even if your previous cervical screening test was normal

• you have vaginal bleeding after your menopause and you are not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

• you have been taking HRT and have vaginal bleeding, and the bleeding continues and cannot be explained when you have stopped your HRT for 6 weeks

• you have vaginal bleeding after your menopause and are taking a medicine called tamoxifen

• you have an unexplained lump on your vulva

• you have sores (ulcers) and bleeding from your vulva

Your doctor might refer you to see a specialist urgently if you have bleeding between your periods and a physical examination is normal.

You should have a CA125 blood test if your GP has examined you and wants to test for ovarian cancer.

You should have an urgent referral for an ultrasound scan if you have:

• an unexplained lump in your tummy (abdomen) or the lower part of your tummy (pelvis)

• a raised CA125 level on a blood test

You should have an urgent referral to see a specialist if your ultrasound is abnormal.