The Early Signs Of Ovarian Cancer And How It Is Treated

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Early detection of cancer will generally allow for the widest choice of treatments, with less invasive treatments more likely to be an option if cancer is detected sooner.

This is why many common cancers have screening programmes and why it is vital to know about the early signs of cancers that may not always be easy to spot.

During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, this is particularly important, as according to Ovarian Cancer Action, only one in ten people know its early signs and symptoms and to seek additional tests to diagnose their causes or confirm that cancer is the cause.

As a specialist international cancer treatment centre, we want to ensure that you have the best treatment possible, which requires not only the latest advances in medical technology and the knowledge of specialist oncologists, but also raising awareness to ensure people get tested.

With that in mind, here is a guide to the early signs of ovarian cancer, what happens if you are diagnosed, and the types of treatments available to you.

What Is Ovarian Cancer?

A diagnosis of ovarian cancer is the detection of a cancerous growth either on the ovaries, fallopian tubes or the peritoneum lining, which covers your stomach and abdominal organs.

The ovaries are the two small organs at either side of the uterus which store egg cells and produce oestrogen and progesterone, the two female sex hormones linked with fertilisation, whilst the fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus.

Because they are relatively small organs, the early signs of ovarian cancer can sometimes be difficult to spot.

What Are The Early Signs Of Ovarian Cancer?

There are four primary symptoms of ovarian cancer, as well as several less common but often connected symptoms.

What often connects these symptoms is that they can often be confused for other conditions, but if they persist for over three weeks, get in touch with a doctor, as they could be a symptom of ovarian cancer.

Bloating

Feeling bloated is not uncommon; many people feel bloated during their period, when eating certain foods or as a symptom of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

However, bloating that does not go away, bloating that is more common than usual and particularly bloating that makes you feel like your stomach is hard and swollen is a common sign of ovarian cancer.

It is the most common early symptom and should not be ignored. Your doctor wants to make sure you are okay and to either get an early diagnosis for ovarian cancer or rule it out and look for other possible causes.

Feeling Full Quicker

Similarly, another common early sign of ovarian cancer is a relatively small appetite, where you feel like you get fuller quicker after starting a meal. This is caused, much like bloating, by fluid build-up brought on by the cancer itself.

Whilst most people have a situation where their eyes are bigger than their stomach, persistently struggling with your appetite and feeling put off by the idea of eating could be a sign of cancer, particularly if it is not typical for you.

More Frequent Or Urgent Urination

If you feel like you need to pee more often, especially if it feels like an urgent need to go, that could be a sign of an ovarian tumour pressing against the bladder.

Changes in urinary patterns happen for a lot of different reasons, but if it is different from your normal bathroom patterns and lingers for quite some time, it should be checked out with your doctor to rule out ovarian cancer.

Stomach And Pelvic Pain

Pain around the stomach, particularly from the lower abdomen to the top of your thighs, is a potential symptom of ovarian cancer, especially if it does not go away.

It is caused by inflammation and pressure caused by the cancer itself, and whilst stomach pains can be caused by menstrual cramps and conditions such as endometriosis, if it persists, it should always be checked by a doctor.

What Other Symptoms Can Be An Early Sign Of Ovarian Cancer?

  • Back pain.
  • Either going to the bathroom more or significantly less.
  • Weight loss that cannot be accounted for.
  • Vaginal bleeding after the menopause.
  • Extreme tiredness.
  • Pain during sex.

How Is Ovarian Cancer Treated?

The typical course of treatment for ovarian cancer is either chemotherapy, surgery or a combination of the two, although radiotherapy can often be used to shrink the cancer, to make chemotherapy more effective or to kill the cancer cells following surgery to ensure the cancer does not come back.