Latest research shows the UK has one of the worst survival rates for ovarian cancer in the developed world. This month sees a campaign launched to raise awareness of the disease which affects nearly 7,000 women every year. Elaine Sibley shares her story to help others.

IT’S known as the ‘silent killer’ because it is so difficult to diagnose as Elaine Sibley found out to her cost.

For years the 53-year-old former chauffeur from Ferndown, thought she was suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and constipation.

“I suffered with bloating and I also used to get a lot of abdominal pain but I was told it was IBS so I thought it was something I just had to live with,” she explains.

But Elaine says her life was “turned upside down” when she was diagnosed in 2010 with advanced ovarian cancer.

The late diagnosis has meant that Elaine’s condition is now terminal and she has been told there is little doctors can do to help her.

“If it is caught early enough your chances of survival are much better but because it is difficult to diagnose it’s usually in the late stages by the time it is discovered,” she explains.

“The problem is that there are tests for cervical cancer and breast cancer but there isn’t a test for ovarian cancer.”

Now Elaine is keen to share her story to help raise awareness of the disease.

“Even if my story helps to save one other woman from going through what I’ve been through it will have been worth it.”

The charity Target Ovarian Cancer is now campaigning for greater awareness. It follows the latest research which shows a lack of awareness among women – especially in the south west.

According to the study, only one per cent of women in the region are very confident about noticing a symptom of ovarian cancer compared to a national average of 3 per cent.

Annwen Jones, chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer said: “Women are dying needlessly every day because they didn’t know the symptoms of this disease before they were diagnosed with advanced cancer.

“Had it been caught at an earlier stage their chances of surviving five years would have almost doubled.”

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Symptoms are persistent (more than 12 times a month) and include abdominal pain and bloating, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, needing to urinate more often and in some cases extreme fatigue.

Most cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in women who have gone through the menopause but younger women can also get it.

For more information visit targetovariancancer.org.uk