Women should know these 4 Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Ovarian cancer, as its name suggests, is a type of cancer that starts in the ovaries.

There are two ovaries in a female reproductive system. The ovaries, albeit small, have a huge responsibility, which is to produce eggs and hormones including oestrogen and progesterone. 

The thing about ovarian cancer is that it can be lurking in the dark. Often, it goes undetected until you’ve experienced extreme symptoms as cancer spreads within the abdomen and pelvis. At this point, it'll be much harder to treat ovarian cancer. 

That’s why it’s crucial to detect it on its early stage, wherein the disease is still within the ovary, so it’ll be more likely to be successfully treated. 

Here are four symptoms of ovarian that you should be aware of. 

1. Bloating

Have you had an unsettling feeling of fullness in your stomach? 

Sure, bloating is common since most women, if not all, have experienced this at least once. 

However, you should know that even as mundane as bloating can be a tell-tale sign of a far more threatening disease.

If it’s around your monthly cycle and you feel bloated, that’s normal so don’t worry. 

But if you’ve had consistent bloating that goes on every day for up to three weeks, then it isn’t normal at all.

Persistent bloating is one of the most common early signs of ovarian cancer, which is often accompanied by visible stomach swelling called abdominal distension.

2. Constipation

Gastrointestinal (GI) problems can be associated with everything from as simple as stress and anxiety to more concerning issues like irritable bowel syndrome and ovarian cancer. 

When it comes to GI symptoms, ovarian cancer often manifests itself through constipations. Therefore, you should pay close attention to any changes in your bowel habits. 

To be specific, be cautious if you have new constipation that doesn’t go away by any interventions. 

Chances are, this is another warning sign. 

3. Prolonged pain

Have you experienced stubborn pressure in the pelvis and abdomen and/or lower back? 

Did it last for one to three weeks? If yes, then this could an indicator of ovarian cancer. 

Albeit vague, prolonged pain, especially if it’s new and doesn’t just come and go, is likely attributed to serious illness. 

If the pain alleviates if you make some dietary changes, then it’s likely a GI-related issue. 

That said, it can be difficult to set apart the symptoms of ovarian cancer and GI-related problems. 

So, if you have these symptoms for prolonged periods and still don’t go away after trying to cure them, don’t hesitate to see a doctor. 

4. Change in bladder function

More often than not, when women have urinary problems, like being in pain when urinating, they usually point their fingers to urinary tract infection (UTI).

In most cases, that could be the culprit. 

However, sometimes, bladder-related problems can also signify a reproductive or gynaecologic problem, say, ovarian cancer. 

If you have frequent needs to urinate, feel pressure or pain in the bladder, or have urgent needs to urinate, and they last more than several days, then that’s a problem. 

For more thoughts and suggestions about ovarian cancer and how to detect it, our comment section is wide open for you.