A GP has revealed that there’s one type of cancer that “really worries her.” She said this is because the symptoms are “non-specific” and many people put the signs down to other problems.

Dr Shireen shared an informative video about ovarian cancer on her TikTok account under the username @doctorshireen. In the post, the GP spoke about the different symptoms that could point to ovarian cancer and why women often think they’re signs of other issues such as urine infections or even menopause.

The doctor urged people to share the information with family and friends, as well as to talk to or visit their doctor if they show any of the signs she discussed. She added that it is “quite easy” to do preliminary testing for ovarian cancer, but that people need to visit their GP to get checked over first.

In the short clip, Dr Shireen said: “I’m an NHS GP and there is one cancer that really worries me. The reason it worries me is because the signs and symptoms of it are often so non- specific that people don’t realise that there’s something wrong.

“By non specific, I mean it’s a symptom that can have many different causes and a lot of the causes are often benign. The cancer that I’m talking about is ovarian cancer.”

She added: “So typically ovarian cancer causes symptoms like bloating, just generally feeling unwell, abdominal discomfort, pelvic discomfort, feeling full quickly after meals or feeling like an urge and need to pass urine more frequently.

“The issue is women might put those symptoms down to being perimenopausal, menopausal. It might be something they’ve eaten, they might think they’ve got a grumbling urine infection.

“Unfortunately, ovarian cancer isn’t often on the top of priorities and as a result, they might present too late. And we know with cancer, the sooner you present, the better in terms of prognosis.

“So please pass this on to your mums, your sisters, your friends, your wives. Know it yourself what the symptoms can be.

“For us as GPs, if someone comes in with those symptoms, we would do a blood test to check for a tumour marker called CA125 and also to do an ultrasound scan.

“So it is really quite easy for us to do the preliminary test to check for it, but we need people to come in.”

The doctor went on to add: “I appreciate it’s hard to see your GP. Don’t come at me in the comments. I appreciate that. But if you are having those symptoms, please – e-consult, telephone call, face to face appointment. Just speak to someone.”

According to the NHS, ovarian cancer can affect anyone who has ovaries, the two small organs that store the eggs needed to make babies. Sometimes ovarian cancer runs in families and mostly affects women over the age of 50.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer, such as bloating, are not always obvious. Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, but early diagnosis can mean it is more treatable.

The NHS website says you can still get ovarian cancer if you’ve had your ovaries removed because it can also affect your fallopian tubes, or the lining inside your tummy (peritoneum).

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include frequently (roughly 12 or more times a month) having:

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:

Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories