Ovarian cancer or cancer that begins in the ovaries or the fallopian tubes of women, isn’t easy to detect, considering its sneaky symptoms that may be mistaken for other common conditions.Not paying attention to the early signs could lead to metastasis of the cancer to different body parts, which affects recovery.World Ovarian Cancer Day, celebrated every year on May 8, shines a spotlight on the seventh most commonly occurring cancer in women worldwide, which causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. In the US, it ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women.
While the cancer can affect women at any age, it is more common in those 55 or above, or with a family history of ovarian, breast, uterine or colorectal cancer. About half of the women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older, according to the American Cancer Society.Here are warning signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer that shouldn’t be ignored:
- Bloating:- If you feel bloated after eating very little or have this uncomfortable feeling of tightness around your stomach area, it could be sign of ovarian cancer. A noticeable increase in belly size that just doesn’t shrink, may indicate your bloating is more than constipation, acidity or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Frequent urination:- Frequent or urgent urination is a sign of many diseases like diabetes, urinary tract infection (UTI), or an overactive bladder, but it could also be due to pressure from a growing tumor on the bladder. Ovarian cancer cells may grow on outside of the bladder wall or ascites in the pelvis compressing the bladder, which could make women feel the need to urinate more frequently.
- Pelvic pain:- Pain in pelvis region or any discomfort in the lower abdomen could point towards a growing tumour. However, pelvic pain may also occur due to menstrual cramps, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and conditions affecting the reproductive organs. Pelvic pain from ovarian cancer is often persistent, vague, and not clearly linked to menstruation or specific triggers, unlike pain from conditions like endometriosis or ovarian cysts, which is typically cyclical or acute.
- Loss of appetite:- Ovarian cancer can lead to a feeling of bloating or fullness which could also lead to problems in finishing meals.
- Fatigue:- Like other types of cancer, ovarian cancer can also make you feel tired or exhausted most of the time. Cancer can alter normal protein and hormone levels, which are connected to inflammatory processes in the body and can induce or worsen weariness.
- Back pain:- Back pain may happen due to posture issues, but severe lower back discomfort that doesn’t let you sleep is a red flag. This could happen due to accumulation of fluid in the pelvis, which could cause discomfort in the lower back tissues.
- Changes in menstrual cycle:- This is something women should always pay attention to. If your menstrual cycle has all of a sudden changed which means your periods start coming early or late, you should consult your healthcare expert. Irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or bleeding between periods should not be ignored.
- Bleeding after menopause:- Bleeding after menopause refers to any vaginal bleeding occurring a year or more after periods have stopped. This includes spotting or bleeding during or after sexual intercourse. Though not always cancer, it can be a warning sign of ovarian or other gynecologic cancers and should be evaluated by a doctor.