Early and Advanced Signs You Should Know
Ovarian cancerhas been nicknamed the “silent killer.”
Unfortunately, these early symptoms are usually subtle and easily attributed to other causes.
This article discusses the early and later symptoms of ovarian cancer.
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It also looks at some of the complications of ovarian cancer, and when you should see a doctor.
The symptoms were just too mild or vague to prompt a visit to the doctor.
This key in of bloating may vary in degree from mild to severe.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
It often occurs on a daily basis and can worsen with time.
You may also have mild indigestion.
This symptom can be subtle.
Your clothes may feel tight around your waistline, even when you haven’t gained any weight.
Look in the mirror.
You may be able to see visible bloating.
Some people may even develop stretch marks.
This can happen especially if you have never been pregnant.
Bloating with early ovarian cancer is often dismissed as something else.
You may think it’s related to age, menopause, or gaining a few pounds.
This is why this symptom may be overlooked.
The pain may be on one side of your pelvis.
It can also be diffuse and felt all over your pelvis.
There may or may not also be gas and indigestion.
Frequent Urination
Another early symptom of ovarian cancer ismore frequent urination.
There may also be a sense of urgency when you oughta go.
This may be related to a tumor putting pressure on the bladder.
It can also be related to hormonal changes resulting from some tumors.
This is why it is important to see your doctor.
These advanced symptoms include:
Changes in Bowel Habits
This is the most important symptom to note.
It may also be a symptom of colon cancer.
Changes in bowel habits can include both constipation and diarrhea.Stools may also become skinnier.
This is because the tumor puts pressure on the bowel.
In later stages of ovarian cancer, tumors may cause bowel obstruction.
Symptoms include:
Pain With Intercourse
Pain during intercourseis also calleddyspareunia.
It may occur with ovarian cancer.
It can also be a symptom of other conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease.
This pain is often felt on one side more than the other but can be generalized.
The pain is similar to menstrual cramps.
It may begin with intercourse and continue for some time afterward.
Painful sex can be a warning sign for a number of physical conditions.
It can also be a source of emotional stress and put a strain on relationships.
Discuss any discomfort or pain during sexual activity with your doctor.
Back Pain
Pain may occur in the lower backor flank region.
The flank is the side of the body, roughly between the rib cage and the hip.
The pain can feel similar to menstrual pain or the early stages of labor.
Unintentional Weight Loss or Weight Gain
Weight gain from ovarian cancer often happens quickly.
This is due to the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.
Weight loss may occur for a combination of reasons.
The early sensation of fullness and loss of appetite may cause weight loss.
With more advanced cancers,cancercachexiamay contribute.
Cachexia is a syndrome of weight loss, loss of muscle mass, and loss of appetite.
Unintentional weight lossis the loss of 5% or more of body weight over six to 12 months.
Unintentional weight loss should always be evaluated.
Besides ovarian cancer, there are other serious conditions that can cause this.
Ascites can happen when the cancer spreads to the abdominal cavity and liver.
The fluid needs to be drained.
Ascites can also lead to shortness of breath if the fluid pushes upward on the lungs.
Fatigue
Fatigueis the most common cancer symptom.
It can also be a symptom of a wide range of other medical conditions, though.
Cancer-related fatigue tends to differ from ordinary tiredness.
It doesn’t go away after a good night of sleep or a cup of coffee.
As ovarian cancer progresses, cancer cells compete with healthy cells for energy.
This is what causes fatigue.
Fluid in the abdomen and fatigue are other signs of later-stage ovarian cancer.
Sex cord stromal tumors are those that arise from cells and tissues that support the ovaries.
Masculinization
Tumors that produce male-bang out hormones may result in masculinization.
Symptoms may include a lowering of the voice and male pattern hair growth.
These symptoms are often found in the subtype of stromal ovarian tumors called Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors.
Vaginal Discharge or Bleeding
Vaginal discharge may also occur.
It may be clear, yellow, or blood-tinged.
There may also be bleeding similar to a period.
Abnormal vaginal bleeding is a common symptomof stromal cell tumors.
It is associated with the female hormone estrogen secreted by these tumors.
There are manypotential causes.
Precocious Puberty
Early puberty is called precocious puberty.
It may occur in girls due to estrogen-secreting tumors.
It is most often seen with germ cell and stromal cell tumors.
Pain that is severe could be a different kind of ovarian tumor symptom.
Ovarian tumors can cause the ovary to twist around the fallopian tube.
This is known as torsion.
It is more common with germ cell and stromal cell tumors.
When this happens, the blood vessels that bring blood to the ovary may be cut off.
The lack of blood supply can cause severe pain, bleeding, and often infection.
Ovarian tumors andcystscan become quite large before they cause symptoms.
Ovarian Cancer Complications
Ovarian cancer can cause other complications.
This happens most often when the cancer spreads to the abdomen and lungs.
Many people have few, if any, of these complications.
Bowel Obstruction
Bowel obstructionsmay occur when cancer spreads to the abdomen and pelvis.
It may also happen because of scar tissue that forms after abdominal or pelvic surgery.
This includes surgery for ovarian cancer.
Scar tissue can lead to kinks and twists in the bowel.
This can cause an obstruction.
Symptoms of a bowel obstruction include:
Surgery is often needed to remove the affected parts of the intestine.
After surgery, feeding is often temporarily done through a tube.
This gives the bowel time to recover.
Perforated Colon
Ovarian cancer tends to spread to the wall of the intestines.
As it grows, tissue can weaken.
This may set the stage forbowel perforation.
When the bowel is perforated, bowel contents leak into the abdominal cavity.
This causes an infection called peritonitis.Surgery is often needed to bypass the diseased area of the bowel.
Urinary Blockage or Urinary Retention
Ovarian cancer can spread in the pelvis.
It may block the tubes that travel from the kidneys to the bladder.
These tubes are called ureters.
If both ureters are blocked, urine output drops.
If only one ureter is blocked, there could be severe pain.
There may also be no pain, depending on the location of the blockage.
Astentmay be placed to handle the blockage.
This is a small tube that holds the ureter open.
These membranes are calledpleura.
Sometimes this fluid contains cancer cells.
Pleura that contains cancer cells is calledmalignant pleural effusion.
A procedure calledthoracentesiscan be used to drain the fluid.
During this procedure, a needle is placed through the skin on the chest into the pleural cavity.
Pleural effusions often recur with cancer.
A stent can be placed to allow continual drainage.Pleurodesisis another option.
During this procedure, a chemical is placed between the layers.
This causes the membranes to scar together, preventing additional fluid build-up.
Bone Pain
When cancer spreads to the bones it can cause pain.
For each of these symptoms, there are usually other, less harmful conditions that could be the cause.
This is especially important if your symptoms are similar to what you see above.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
In the early stages,ovarian cancercan be cured ortreatedto allow for a very low probability of returning.
Summary
Early symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague and mild.
A pelvic mass is another common symptom of these types of cancers.
See a doctor if you have any signs of ovarian cancer, even if they are subtle.
Your symptoms are likely to have other causes.
If they are related to ovarian cancer, though, early detection can help you get life-saving treatment.
In fact, if the tumor is limited to the tumor, thefive-year survivalrate is an optimistic 93%.
They includebreast cancer,uterine cancer,cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are different types of ovarian cancer.
Each has its own average survival rate.
Invasive epithelial ovarian cancer has an average five-year survival rate of 49%.
Diagnosisinvolves:
Treatmentfor ovarian cancer may involve surgery.
During surgery, cancerous tissue is removed.
Depending on the stage, chemotherapy or radiation may also be used.
There are also targeted medications that inhibit cancer growth.
These include angiogenesis inhibitors and PARP inhibitors.
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