London - Women are putting their health on hold because they are too busy with work or family to visit their GP, according to a poll.
And when they do go to the doctor, a third of women say their concerns are dismissed.
The charity Ovarian Cancer Action, which commissioned the survey, says that too often women suppress their health concerns.
According to the poll of 2 000 British women, more than quarter say they put work before going to see a doctor and a third prioritise family over health.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common form of the disease among British women, with 7 100 cases each year. About 50 percent of sufferers live for at least five years after diagnosis – but this depends on quick treatment.
More than a third of the women who took part in the survey said their concerns were dismissed by GPs when they did speak up about their health.
Physical problems were the most often dismissed, with 36 percent of women saying their doctor had not listened.
The charity has launched a campaign, “Speak Up, Listen Up!” to encourage women to insist their GP listens to their concerns.
Katherine Taylor of Ovarian Cancer Action, said: “The reluctance for women to seek help and speak up about health is worrying but it’s not hard to understand.”
Daily Mail