Ovarian cancer is a disease that begins in the tissues of a woman's ovaries and is capable of spreading to other parts of the body. The ovaries are reproductive glands in a woman where the eggs, also known as ova, develop. There are two types of ovarian cancer that comprise most cases of the affliction. One is ovarian epithelial carcinoma, which describes a cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the organ. The other is malignant germ cell cancer, which develops initially in the egg cells. Being alert to the symptoms of ovarian cancer can make an early diagnosis possible, meaning the chance to have a favorable prognosis is greatly increased.
Silent Killer
Ovarian cancer has been called the silent killer because the symptoms of the disease are what are known in medical terms as "nonspecific." This means that there are no classic signs to look for that can enable a woman to know that ovarian cancer is responsible. Instead the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be readily mistaken as being caused by other problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, only one in five cases of ovarian cancer is diagnosed before the affliction has had a chance to spread outwards from the ovary.
Steady Symptoms
It is important to realize that the symptoms of ovarian cancer have a tendency to remain the same over a period of time before eventually getting even worse. This is different from the diseases that this type of cancer is often misconstrued as. Crohn's disease, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome have symptoms that come on and then get better before once again becoming severe. This fluctuation is not present in ovarian cancer as the signs of the cancer are steady and do not go away only to come back later.
Warning Signs
A woman suffering from ovarian cancer will exhibit such signs as feeling abdominal pressure. This fullness can resemble bloating and give the individual a sensation of being swollen in the abdominal region. There can be a need to frequently urinate brought about by the cancer. Pain in the pelvic area can also be present. When symptoms such as these present themselves for more than just a few weeks, a woman should seek a medical opinion from her doctor.
Common Symptoms
Constant bouts of indigestion after meals is another sign associated with ovarian cancer. Excess gas and nausea that causes a woman's stomach to feel upset is possible. Women that have no previous problems with their bowels may experience a change in these habits, with constipation being one such example. The bladder can also be affected, and someone with ovarian cancer may eat just a little bit but feel quite full. Lack of appetite and fatigue are also common signs of ovarian cancer.
Other Possible Signs
Other signs that ovarian cancer may be present include pain that a woman will feel when engaged in intercourse. Pain that radiates from the lower back and goes into the legs is also a potential symptom. The menstruation of a woman with ovarian cancer can be altered, with heavier bleeding than normal during periods. Shortness of breath is also a complaint that some ovarian cancer patients have had, as well as an expanded abdomen and suddenly tight-fitting clothes.
Tags: ovarian cancer, symptoms ovarian, symptoms ovarian cancer, with ovarian, with ovarian cancer, bowel syndrome, cancer that