Many times, women with ovarian cancer have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
The lack of a reliable screening test puts women at a disadvantage for finding ovarian cancer early, before the disease has progressed.
When ovarian cancer symptoms do present, they may resemble those of intestinal flu. When combined with other symptoms, like abdominal
bloating, fatigue and a heavy feeling in the pelvic area, a thorough evaluation is in order.
Ovarian cancer symptoms can be mild and may not present immediately. Signs may include:
- Sense of pelvic heaviness
- Vague lower abdominal discomfort
- Vaginal bleeding
- Weight gain or loss
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
- Unexplained back pain that worsens over time
- Increased abdominal girth
- Increased gas
- Indigestion
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty eating usual volumes of food
- Bloating
Some risk factors may include:
- Age: two-thirds of women who develop ovarian cancer are over age 55
- Menstruation before age 12
- No children or first child after age 30
- Menopause after age 50
- Prolonged use of the fertility drug clomiphene citrate, especially without achieving pregnancy, may increase the risk
- Family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer
- Personal history of breast cancer diagnosed before age 50
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Ovarian Cancer
