To diagnose ovarian cancer, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, examine you and may ask about your medical history, eg if anyone else in your family has had breast or ovarian cancer. You may have a blood test for a protein called CA125 that can be high in ovarian cancer. The doctor may also carry out an internal examination to check your womb and ovaries and refer you to a gynaecologist. You may have further tests, eg an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan to view the inside of your pelvis. If the results show abnormalities, you may have a laparoscopy-a fibre-optic tube inserted into your stomach via a small cut below your belly button for the surgeon to look at your ovaries and surrounding organs. This is done under a general anaesthetic. The surgeon may take a biopsy-a small sample of tissue for testing.
Attribution: BUPA