Ovarian cancer, one of the cancers unique to women, is one of the leading causes of death associated with cancer. It has been referred to by doctors as “the silent killer” because of its tendency to go undetected until it is in its more advanced stages. Women who have been diagnosed late with regards to cancer of the ovaries have poorer chances of recovery which is why there is a need for women to determine whether a physical sign is an ovarian cancer symptom.
“The silent killer” has struck innumerable women, catching them unaware when it was almost always too late. Recent studies now suggest that a symptoms checklist, along with an official blood test, can diagnose at least 80% of ovarian cancer in its earliest stages when it is at its most curable.
The initial step to be taken when thinking about the possibility of you having cancer of the ovaries is to check for any occurrences of a potential ovarian cancer symptom. Now, you must first understand that ovarian cancer warning signs are not very specific in the sense that they can not be singled out as exclusive symptoms for ovarian cancer. The warning signs resemble the symptoms of other ailments that are not related at all to cancer, hence the tendency to mistake ovarian cancer signs for something else.
To give you a guideline on what to look for when identifying a possible ovarian cancer symptom, doctors agree on three basic symptoms, namely:
An increase in the woman’s abdominal size, making the area look bloated
The experience of pain in the pelvic or abdominal region
Difficulty with eating or feeling full too quickly
It is quite normal for women to experience any of these symptoms at one time or another. However, if any of these warning signs have appeared lately — within the last year — and has bothered you nonstop for two to three weeks, it may be an indication that you have ovarian cancer. In fact, no more than 2% of women report having recent, recurrent experience with these symptoms.
Should you discover that after two week’s observation that you have continuous complaints about an ovarian cancer symptom, it is about time that you went to see a healthcare provider. If your doctor is not a specialist on ovaries or on cancer, he may refer you to a gynecologic oncologist which refers to a surgeon whose line of specialization is treating ovarian cancer.
Other kinds of doctors who can help diagnose and treat ovarian cancer include radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and gynecologists. When with your chosen doctor, tell all the details of the past weeks that you have been burdened with any of the symptoms that have been listed here. This will help your attending physician determine whether your case demands an ovarian cancer diagnosis. That simple feeling of being bloated or the slight pain near your pelvis might just turn out to be an ovarian cancer symptom.
Additional ovarian cancer indicators may also include the following:
Trouble breathing
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Urgency or frequency in urinating
Indigestion, nausea, constipation, gas, diarrhea
Pain located in the back or legs
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Pain during sex
Being prompt in availing of a medical evaluation for having a suspected ovarian cancer symptom may result in the detection of the cancer at its earliest possible stage.
