If the answer is yes, then you could have ovarian cancer and should make an appointment immediately with your GP and insist on booking in for an ultrasound.
One woman dies every eight hours from ovarian cancer in Australia and over 50 per cent of the community incorrectly believe a pap smear diagnoses it.
The average age of diagnosis is 64 but you can get it at any age.
Watching her mother die from ovarian cancer has galvanised Auburn resident Mary Dias into becoming a campaigner against the disease and she is urging other women not to ignore symptoms ahead of the annual Teal Ribbon Day on Wednesday, February 23.
Tragically she said the family and medical staff all dismissed her 80-year-old mother’s symptoms as ‘just part of getting old’ until it was too late.
“We didn’t know the symptoms,” she said.
“I don’t want women to suffer like I saw my mum suffer. It was so sad, she shouldn’t have had to go through that.
“I just want to make people aware. Ovarian cancer is called a silent killer for a good reason.
“It’s a terrible thing, such an awful cancer. It’s for my mum that I have to do this, to talk about ovarian cancer and to educate everyone.”
The Ovarian Cancer Australia Helpline is available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, on 1300 660 334 or visit ovariancancer.net.au.
Why it’s called the silent killer
DO you have stomach pain, bloating or a backache? Do you need to urinate often or feel full after eating only a small amount?