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Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Every Woman Should Know

Ovarian cancer often develops silently, making early detection crucial for effective treatment. While sometimes called a "silent disease," it does present warning signs that women should recognize. Understanding these symptoms can lead to earlier medical intervention and improved outcomes.

Understanding ovarian cancer

The ovaries, small organs within the female reproductive system, produce eggs and vital hormones like estrogen and progesterone. When cancer develops in these organs, early detection poses a significant challenge. Many symptoms overlap with common conditions, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Critical warning signs

Persistent bloating

Unlike occasional bloating from dietary changes, ovarian cancer-related bloating persists and often worsens over time. This bloating typically occurs daily and doesn't resolve with diet modifications or exercise. Women describe it as a noticeable change from their normal patterns.

Abdominal and pelvic pain

Discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvis warrants attention, especially when it differs from typical menstrual pain. This pain often feels deeper and more persistent than usual cramping. Some women describe it as a constant pressure or heaviness in their pelvis.

Changes in eating patterns

Early satiety – feeling full quickly when eating – represents a common yet overlooked symptom. Women might notice they can't finish normal portions or lose interest in food altogether. This change often accompanies unexplained weight loss despite not trying to lose weight.

Urinary changes

Increased urinary frequency or urgency might indicate pressure from growing tumors on the bladder. These changes differ from urinary tract infections as they persist despite treatment. Some women report feeling like they can't fully empty their bladder.

Unusual fatigue

Persistent exhaustion that rest doesn't improve may signal underlying health issues. This fatigue often feels different from normal tiredness, affecting daily activities and quality of life. Many women report feeling unusually tired for weeks or months without explanation.

Additional symptoms requiring attention

Menstrual irregularities, particularly in pre-menopausal women, deserve medical evaluation. Unexpected bleeding or changes in normal patterns might indicate underlying issues. Post-menopausal women should report any vaginal bleeding to their healthcare provider immediately.

Back pain that differs from typical muscle strain or doesn't improve with rest might signal ovarian issues. Some women experience pain during intercourse or notice changes in bowel habits alongside other symptoms.

Understanding risk factors

Several factors influence ovarian cancer risk. Family history, particularly of ovarian or breast cancer, increases susceptibility. Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations face higher risks and may need more frequent screening.

Age plays a significant role, with risk increasing after menopause. Reproductive history affects risk levels – women who have never been pregnant or experienced infertility may face increased chances of developing ovarian cancer.

When to seek medical attention

Symptoms persisting for two weeks or more require medical evaluation. While individual symptoms might have benign causes, combinations of symptoms warrant prompt attention. Women should track when symptoms occur and how they affect daily life.

Regular gynecological check-ups provide opportunities to discuss concerns with healthcare providers. Open communication about family history and genetic risk factors helps determine appropriate screening schedules.

Diagnostic approaches

Modern medicine offers several methods for investigating potential ovarian cancer:

Physical examinations help identify abnormalities in the pelvic region. Imaging studies, including transvaginal ultrasound and CT scans, provide detailed views of the reproductive organs. Blood tests measuring CA-125 levels can indicate potential ovarian cancer, though this test alone isn't definitive.

Risk reduction strategies

While some risk factors remain beyond control, certain lifestyle choices may help reduce ovarian cancer risk. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight support overall health. Some studies suggest that oral contraceptive use may lower risk for some women.

Moving forward

Understanding ovarian cancer symptoms empowers women to advocate for their health. Early recognition of warning signs, combined with prompt medical attention, provides the best opportunity for successful treatment.

Women should never hesitate to discuss concerns with healthcare providers, even if symptoms seem mild. The medical community increasingly recognizes the importance of listening to women's health concerns and investigating persistent symptoms.

Remember that each woman knows her body best. Changes from normal patterns deserve attention and evaluation. Through awareness and proactive health management, women can take charge of their wellbeing and seek care when needed.

This story was created using AI technology.

Woman, 34, Says Doctors 'brushed Off' Her Symptoms. She Had 'extensive' Pre-cancerous Tumors

At the end of December 2022, Emily Campbell, then 32, became uncomfortably bloated and looked as if she were expecting.

"My abdomen was very distended, and normally when I have had bloating before, it goes away," the now-35-year-old from Miami tells TODAY.Com. "It was not like that. (It was) rock hard. The best way to describe it is as a pregnant belly feeling."

Throughout that month, Campbell visited serval doctors trying to understand her symptoms, though they often dismissed her. About six weeks after her symptoms began, she insisted on an ultrasound and was eventually diagnosed with Stage 3 borderline ovarian tumors, a type of pre-cancerous mass.  

"It's disappointing to know that I am not the only one who has been through this experience of being gaslight by a health care professional or being misdiagnosed or being brushed off," Campbell says. "The larger problem is there's a lack of awareness and understanding and education around the symptoms (of ovarian tumors)."

Bloating that made it difficult to sleep

The first bodily change Campbell noticed was her unusual abdominal bloating, but she developed other worrisome symptoms as time passed.

Emily Campbell needed to undergo surgery for doctors to remove the numerous tumors all over her ovaries and uterus. Unforunately, her doctors couldn't save the organs. Courtesy Emily Campbell

"I couldn't walk. I had to waddle (because) my stomach was so big. I couldn't sleep," she says. "I also felt extremely full after just eating a few bites, having heartburn." She visited a few doctors, who prescribe laxatives to help her with what they thought could be constipation. But her symptoms didn't improve, and soon her husband, Chris Campbell, encouraged her to continue to seek answers.

"My husband was like, 'You look physically different. You need to keep going to the doctors until you get a different answer,'" Campbell recalls. "The answers that I was receiving were, 'You have a gluten allergy.' 'You're probably just constipated.'"

Doctors even tested her for bacterial and viral infections, which she did not have. About mid-January 2023, she visited a doctor to ask for an ultrasound, which revealed something unusual.

"They found that there was fluid all around my abdomen, and that was the abdomen distension," she says. "The doctor sat me down and said, 'There is a lot of fluid in your abdomen that is not normal.' She's like, 'I cannot let you go home in good conscience.'"

The doctor advised Campbell to go to the emergency room for more tests, including an MRI, ultrasound and a PET scan. Doctors there found masses on both her ovaries in addition to the fluid collecting in her belly.

These signs indicated that Campbell had a malignancy, and the doctors admitted her to the hospital. About a week later, she underwent surgery to remove the masses. The tumors had already spread throughout her abdomen, and doctors removed her uterus, cervix and both ovaries.

"The tumors were extensive. They were on both ovaries, all over the uterus," she says. "Doctors (saw) a little bit on the colon and bladder and appendix as well."

Campbell experienced a lot of emotions after undergoing such an extensive surgery that impacted her fertility.

"I was grateful that they did take all the tumors out. The surgery was successful. They didn't feel like they had to go back," she says. "For me, that was the No. 1 goal. I was so uncomfortable the weeks leading up to this with all the symptoms that at that point I was like, 'Do anything.'"

At first, doctors told her she had low-grade serous ovarian cancer, but she later learned she had borderline ovarian tumors. Campbell pursued a second and third opinion, which is how she was able to learn the correct diagnosis.

"Because of the rarity, it can be easily mistaken for one or the other," Campbell says. 

Since being diagnosed with borderline ovarian tumors, Emily Campbell has started a nonprofit, Not These Ovaries, to raise money for ovarian screening tests and treatments.Courtesy Emily Campbell

As part of her treatment plan, doctors prescribed a medication to suppress her estrogen production. That put her into menopause immediately, and grappling with the symptoms and physical changes that come with early-onset menopause feels difficult at times.

"My bone density is unfortunately minimizing," she says. "The menopause symptoms are real, so I do feel those. But I also feel strong and healthy today as well."

Borderline ovarian tumors

People can have benign or malignant tumors, but there are also tumors that show characteristics of cancer but aren't yet cancerous, says Dr. Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida. Called borderline ovarian tumors, they can return as cancer in some cases.

"Borderline tumors are pre-cancer," Slomovitz says. "A small category of them could actually recur as what's called a low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma."

While borderline ovarian tumors are rare, they occur more often in young women, whereas ovarian cancer risk increases with age. Ovarian cancer most often occurs after menopause with 50% of these cancers developing after age 63, the American Cancer Society notes.

Symptoms of borderline ovarian tumors are the same as "any signs of ovarian mass," Slomovitz explains. Signs include:

Pelvic pain

Pelvic pressure

Feeling full early when eating

Needing to urinate more frequently

Symptoms often do not occur until after a person's masses have spread.

"A lot of times patients have symptoms, and it takes a while for their surgeon to operate," he says. "(When) there are symptoms, appropriate workup is necessary in order to ideally catch it at an earlier stage … so it's not truly invasive yet." 

Having the support of her husband, Chris Campbell, as she recovered from surgery, helped Emily Campbell tremendously.Courtesy Emily Campbell

Surgery is the first-line treatment to remove the masses, which can also include removing the ovaries and uterus, as the tumors can spread there. Slomovitz notes that, when appropriate, doctors try to avoid hysterectomy in younger women to preserve fertility.

Patients with borderline ovarian tumors undergo follow-up surveillance for the rest of their lives, whereas people with ovarian cancer are considered cured and no longer need surveillance if they go five years without disease.

That's because borderline tumors can come back after more than five years, with an estimated 80% of tumors like the one Campbell had recurring, Slomovitz explains. That said, the overall survival rate for borderline ovarian tumors is quite high.

'Women deserve better'

After her experience, Campbell and her husband founded an organization Not These Ovaries to raise money to fund screening for ovarian cancer and developing a treatment. There's currently no screening for ovarian cancer, Slomovitz notes.

"Most ovarian cancers are detected at an advanced stage," Campbell says. "That's a really hard cancer to detect because of lack of symptoms, lack of screening, and women deserve better."

Campbell also hopes that people speak up if they notice something is wrong with their health. 

"It's OK, if something doesn't feel right, to push until you get an answer. I think it's really hard to do that … because our symptoms often get gaslit or dismissed," she says. "You know your body best, so advocate for yourself."

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