Ovarian cancer: a guide for primary care nurses

Ovarian cancer despite research, continues to have a poor prognosis and high mortality rate, and although less prevalent than breast cancer it is three times more lethal.¹ Diagnosis is often made late, when the cancer has already spread, a fact largely attributed to the vague, non-specific symptoms, frequently thought to be caused by another condition with similar symptoms, which results in a poor prognosis.

This article hopes to raise awareness and improve knowledge of this often-fatal disease with the hope of helping nurses and non-medical prescribers, recognise signs and symptoms, enabling them to get earlier investigations and diagnosis with the aim of improving prognosis for all women affected.