Online search data ‘may help spot ovarian cancer cases earlier’

For the study, the team looked at Google search data for women (Tim Goode/PA)

Patients are often advised against googling symptoms but new research suggests online search data may help spot ovarian cancer cases up to a year before GP referrals.

Google data from 235 women has shown that many of them were looking up symptoms online such as weight loss, bladder problems and bloating as early as 360 days before being issued referrals for suspected cancer.