Target Ovarian Cancer, a UK charity group, surveyed 400 GPs (general practitioners) and 1,000 women about their knowledge of ovarian cancer. The results were not promising. Of the GPs polled, only 51% identified “increased abdominal size” as the “most important symptom” and a scant 2% identified “difficulty eating” or “feeling full” (other common symptoms). 93% of the GPs acknowledged that diagnosis is often delayed.

The most disturbing results came from the 132 ovarian cancer survivors that were polled. 88 of those women “felt their doctor did not take their concerns and symptoms very seriously”. 44$ of that group had to wait more than six months to get a correct diagnosis.

Ovarian cancer has such a high fatality rate because doctors are not properly (or swiftly) diagnosing the disease. With early diagnosis, there’s a 90% survival rate. But without that, there’s only a 30% chance that the survivor will make it past five years. Doctors need to realize that there can’t be a “wait and see” approach when symptoms align with those of ovarian cancer.