Ovarian cancer is most often diagnosed in the later stages of the disease because the ambiguous symptoms can often be overlooked or confused with other conditions. But if you know the symptoms, you are more likely to reach out to your healthcare provider to discuss what’s normal – and what’s not.
“Ovarian cancer symptoms are oftentimes vague,” said Dr. Stephen Hensley, a physician at St. Elizabeth Women’s Health Cold Spring location.
Hensley says these are the signs to watch for:
- Bloating;
- Fullness (feeling full quickly when eating);
- Pain;
- Swelling;
- Urinary urgency;
- Constipation; and
- Obstipation (the feeling as though you need to have a bowel movement).
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms with any regularity, call your doctor, Hensley said. A yearly exam with your gynecologist is recommended to all women for overall health.
Many women incorrectly assume their annual gynecological exam and pap smear test for ovarian cancer, but there is currently no standard screening for ovarian cancer.
While ovarian cancer is not as common as many other cancers, it is often deadly because of the challenge in recognizing symptoms before the cancer is in an advanced stage. If detected in its early stages, nine out of ten women will survive more than five years. However, fewer than 20 percent of women are diagnosed when the disease is in the early stages, according to the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Greater Cincinnati.
“Fortunately, it is the eighth most common cancer in women,” Hensley said. “Unfortunately, it is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in females because of the difficulty in identifying it.”
There are 22,000 new cases each year and more than 14,000 deaths from it every year, Hensley said. It can occur at any age, but is most common in the 55 to 64 age group.
Some factors can increase your risk for developing ovarian cancer:
- Increasing age;
- Personal or family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer;
- Fertility treatments;
- Estrogen hormone replacement therapy;
- Use of an intrauterine device (IUD);
- Smoking;
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome; and
- Never having been pregnant or given birth.
