Ovarian Cancer Symptoms 

(Tina Dawn/VM-Med) –– Ovarian cancer has often been referred to as the “cancer that whispers.” What that means is that due to its vague symptoms that are often not manifested until it’s metastatic and a late-stage disease, ovarian cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to diagnose and treat. This also explains why it’s the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women and the deadliest of gynecologic cancers.

Ovarian cancer often doesn’t produce symptoms that one particularly notices or are cause for concern in the early stages. Many of the signs or symptoms often mimic common or benign problems women often experience –especially before and while they’re on their period. Because of this, someone can have ovarian cancer without knowing it for several years. By the time they are diagnosed, the road to recovery might be far steeper.

A diagnosis at an early stage radically increases the odds of early and less complicated intervention and treatment. Recognizing the symptoms of ovarian cancer can therefore lead to a diagnosis in an earlier, more curable stage.

Signs and symptoms to look out for

Ovarian cancer symptoms can be easily misconstrued for something less serious and therefore dismissed until much later. The symptoms many women experience are upper abdominal and gastrointestinal and are often confused for gastrointestinal disorders, like stubborn heartburn or persistent bloating.

Ovarian cancer is often completely asymptomatic in the early stages and is mostly diagnosed in the advanced stages. Early-stage symptoms are usually things like bloating, nausea, dyspepsia, back pain, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a loss of appetite or feeling full quickly.

Oher symptoms can be a frequent need to urinate if the tumour growth presses against the bladder wall, or unexplained pain during sex. As mentioned previously, these symptoms are all easy to overlook because they mimic symptoms of indigestion or heartburn that a busy woman can easily ignore or postpone seeking medical help for until it may be too late.

Some doctors recommend patients use the acronym ‘BEACH’ as a memory device for ovarian cancer symptoms, also suggested by Ovarcome, an ovarian cancer foundation that raises awareness about ovarian cancer. The foundation recommends that if symptoms persist for more than two weeks, you should consider speaking with your physician.

Common risk factors for ovarian cancer

Those at high risk include women who have had their first menstrual cycle before age 12, menopause after age 50, never had children or given birth, and women who breast-fed for the first time after 30. About 20 to 25 per cent of ovarian cancers are genetic. If there is a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, then the woman should be cautious and pay even closer attention to suspicious symptoms. Other factors may be obesity and hormone replacement therapy.

We should not underestimate keeping track of a patient’s family history and noticing any red flags in symptoms that can’t be immediately dismissed as unimportant. Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you have family members with a history of ovarian or breast cancer, as these cancers can sometimes be hereditary.

Ovarian cancer can grow quite quickly and can metastasize from early stages to advanced within a year. This is why early diagnosis is key.

Ovarian cancer and menopause

One of the biggest risk factors for ovarian cancer may be your age. Ovarian cancer is rare in women younger than 40. Most ovarian cancers develop after menopause, and half of all ovarian cancers are found in women 63 years of age or older.

While menopause doesn’t cause ovarian cancer, your chances of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer certainly increase after you go through menopause. Ovarian cancer increases dramatically in peri- and post-menopausal women. As mentioned earlier, if you start menopause later in life (after 52-53 years of age) your chances of ovarian cancer also increase.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often prescribed to women dealing with difficult symptoms of menopause, such as extreme hot flashes, weight gain, or vaginal discomfort. While some people have concerns about a potential link between HRT and ovarian cancer, the research for the most part remains mostly inconclusive. Many doctors also believe the benefits of HRT far outweigh the risks. This, however, remains something to discuss with your medical provider, as the risks may vary depending on your personal and family history.

If ovarian cancer is diagnosed, treatment is usually a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.

How is ovarian cancer diagnosed

There is no reliable screening test to check for ovarian cancer in people who do not have symptoms.

A healthcare provider will perform a pelvic exam to check for fluid or lumps on or around your ovaries to diagnose ovarian cancer, and order blood tests to check for tumour markers. Pelvic exams help your doctor feel the size, shape, and position of your ovaries and uterus. A colonoscopy can also detect ovarian cancer, especially if it has spread.

Imaging, like a transvaginal ultrasound, a CT or MRI scan can also help your medical provider detect signs of ovarian cancer. The images help your healthcare provider look for tumours on or inside of your ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the peritoneum, while an ultrasound can provide an estimated size of the mass and determine if it’s solid or a fluid-filled cyst. A biopsy can then detect whether a mass is cancerous or benign.

Approximately 1.1 percent of people who have ovaries will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer at some point during their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute data.

Public awareness therefore remains very important, so women can know what to notice and seek medical help for. Your persistent heartburn or that constant bloating may very well be nothing but a manifestation of stress or a bad diet, but it could be a symptom of something far more serious.

VM Med Clinic’s Gynecology Centre specializes in women’s health, with a focus on the female reproductive system. The clinic’s medical specialists provide care and monitor a woman’s sexual and reproductive health throughout her life. Annual preventative healthcare screenings, cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment, are available, as well as all comprehensive medical imaging services. The clinic’s team of health experts takes care of every aspect of our patients’ health needs and works with you to create a personalized course of treatment.

For more information, you can read our extensive archive of VM-Med blogs, including the different stages of ovarian cancer.  

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