Symptoms and Early Warning Signs of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is a very serious and deadly disease that primarily affects women after menopause. It is known as the “Silent Killer” because the early symptoms of ovarian cancer growth are so subtle and resemble symptoms of other benign and non-serious health conditions, that women often end up ignoring them. But this mistake and ignorance can turn out to be life-threatening.
In India, ovarian cancer is the 3rd most common cancer among women with approximately 60,000 new cases being diagnosed each year, and much to the dismay, these cases are detected at an advanced stage, increasing the mortality rate associated with the disease.
Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries, which produce eggs and hormones estrogen and progesterone. And gradually, the tumor spreads to the surrounding organs, including fallopian tubes, uterus, intestines, bladder, etc. Without proper intervention, the cancer continues to spread throughout the body and often leads to multiple organ function damage, which ultimately causes death. Thus, being aware of the potential symptoms and early warning signs of ovarian cancer is critical.
In this blog, we will focus on the symptoms and early warning signs of ovarian cancer so that women can identify them and seek timely medical attention and potentially life-saving treatment.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Learning about the symptoms is the first step toward ovarian cancer awareness. Women should be able to recognize the symptoms, even when they resemble other benign conditions or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Typically, it is the frequency, severity, and persistence of the symptoms that allow women to differentiate between a benign health condition and ovarian cancer.
So, it is up to you to become aware of the key indicators of ovarian cancer. Once you do, it'll be easier for you to seek help from a medical professional and take the necessary measures that can save your life.
Let's explore these symptoms in more detail.
- Abdominal Bloating: If you feel bloated constantly and the symptom doesn’t subside or even get worse over time, it is a serious indication of ovarian cancer. Typically, women feel bloated during menstruation and then it goes away after 5-7 days. But if the bloating persists and you feel your abdomen is tight, it’s best to see a doctor for it. One of the most common signs of constant bloating you will be able to notice is that your usual clothes might not fit like before. If so, don’t delay your doctor’s visit.
- Pelvic or Abdominal Pain: Normally, pain in the pelvic region is considered a cramp. But if you notice that the pain is sharp and its intensity varies, the chronic pain might be a symptom of ovarian cancer.
- Difficulty Eating or Feeling Full Quickly: A very common symptom of ovarian cancer that women tend to overlook is the feeling of early satiety. If you feel full after eating only a small amount of food, that is not a good sign. You may ultimately lose weight due to this and attribute the pain to stress or diet changes, but it can be due to the pressure exerted by the tumor on the stomach.
- Frequent Urination: Like the growing tumor presses against the stomach, it can also press against the bladder, leading to frequent urination or a constant feeling of urgency to pass urine. If you rule out urinary tract infection as the potential cause for frequent urination and there is no pain or burning sensation accompanied by the symptom, it might be ovarian cancer.
- Unexplained Weight Loss: Weight loss is a very common sign of ovarian cancer. It happens because the presence of cancer cells affects the body’s ability to process nutrients effectively and unexplained metabolism changes also occur. This means that you’ll lose a significant amount of weight without any clear reason, see a doctor right away.
- Fatigue: Most people, not just women, tend to believe that the best solution for fatigue is to rest well and eat healthy. However, it is a sign that you should never ignore, especially if it is persistent and affecting your ability to perform even the basic day-to-day activities. When cancer develops, the body starts to fight against the disease and diverts all the energy towards the fight, due to which, you might not feel any improvement even after hours of rest.
- Changes in Bowel Movement: Symptoms like chronic constipation, diarrhea, gastric issues, etc., can also be a symptom of ovarian cancer. This usually happens when the tumor puts pressure on the intestines, obstructing the normal passage of stool, and resulting in issues like constipation or the sensation of incomplete bowel movements. Other times, you may get diarrhea or pass gas more frequently than usual. In both cases, the symptoms should not be ignored.
- Menstrual Irregularities: This is one of the most critical signs of ovarian cancer. If you are experiencing changes in your menstrual cycle, period flow (heavier or lighter bleeding), irregular periods, or postmenopausal bleeding, see a doctor immediately.
Early Warning Signs of Ovarian Cancer
While it is critical for you to know the symptoms, when cancer develops in an organ that produces hormones, you can notice the warning signs as well by paying keen attention to your overall health. In the early stages, these warning signs are intermittent, meaning they appear and disappear abruptly. But if you know these warning signs and keep an eye out for them, they can be life-saving.
- Persistent Indigestion: If you’ve made considerable dietary changes and tried medications, yet the indigestion issues are not resolving, it is a sign of a much more serious health problem. Typically, indigestion caused by foods or drinks gets resolved with medicines or by avoiding such foods. But with ovarian cancer, this symptom doesn’t go away and can also be accompanied by nausea, bloating, and a feeling of discomfort after eating.
- Back Pain: If you have lower back pain that is not related to physical activity and doesn’t improve with pain medications, it can be an early warning sign of ovarian cancer. Over time, the pain will grow and start to radiate to the legs, hips, and thighs, which are mistaken as musculoskeletal issues.
- Pain During Intercourse: If you suddenly start to feel pain during sexual intercourse (a condition known as dyspareunia), it is a bad sign that you shouldn’t take lightly at all. The pain arises when the tumor is present in the pelvis region, causing inflammation and irritation in the surrounding tissues.
- Unusual Vaginal Bleeding: If you have spotting or any other type of abnormal vaginal bleeding, consider it a warning sign. This sign is most concerning in postmenopausal women as they shouldn’t experience any form of vaginal bleeding. So, make sure that you consult an expert so that the condition can be diagnosed early.
- Heaviness in the Pelvis Region: In some cases, you may feel heaviness or pressure in the pelvic area, without any pain. The discomfort might be due to the tumor pressure down in the pelvis.
- Swollen Lymph Nodes: If you notice that the lymph nodes in your neck, armpits, or groin region are swollen without any other obvious reason, it is a warning sign that you shouldn’t ignore. This usually happens when the cancer has spread to the lymphatic system, causing them to enlarge. Even though it is not an early warning sign, it indicates that the tumor has spread to a great extent.
- Unexplained Shortness of Breath: Another early warning sign of ovarian cancer is difficulty breathing. This can happen due to two reasons, either fluid build-up in the abdominal region or the cancer has spread to the lungs. In the early stages, it’s usually due to the former. The fluid presses the diaphragm, making it harder to breathe. This issue should be evaluated immediately.
- Skin Color Changes: It is not a common warning sign, but in some cases, women notice changes in the skin color, either pale or yellow in case the body is unable to produce enough red blood cells (anemia). Similar symptoms appear in the later stages of ovarian cancer as well when the tumor has spread to the liver, which causes jaundice.
As you read, if you end up taking the early warning signs lightly, they'll become severe as the cancer spreads in the body. Therefore, it's crucial to be aware of the symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer, so you can take the first step for a diagnosis and start the treatment as soon as possible, thereby improving your survival rate.
Conclusion
Always keep in mind that cancer is a very formidable enemy that can turn your world upside down if you are not careful and attentive toward your health issues. Instead of ignoring small health problems, pay attention to them and note down your symptoms, even if they are not severe. If you notice these vague symptoms repeatedly over a few months, seek medical advice promptly from expert doctors.
At Oncare Cancer, we provide the expert care cancer patients need. Our comprehensive approach and personalized care ensure that our patient’s needs are met. Our team of experienced oncologists, surgeons, nurses, and support staff aid and guide patients at every step to ensure they understand the treatment plan. Along with providing the best-quality ovarian cancer treatment, our compassionate approach allows us to care for our patients and their families throughout the cancer journey.
If you or your loved one is experiencing any of the symptoms and warning signs of ovarian cancer, don’t hesitate, and reach out to Oncare Cancer for consultation. We will help you navigate through difficult times with expertise and empathy.