Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
Ovarian cancer occurs when cells grow in an uncontrolled, abnormal
manner and produce tumors in one or both ovaries which is the fifth most common
cancer in women. It's diagnosed in more than 25,000 women in the United States
each year, and about 16,000 women die of the disease annually.
Ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors. The more children a
woman has, the lower her risk of ovarian cancer.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:
- General abdominal discomfort and/or pain (gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, cramps)
- Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling of fullness even after a light meal
- Abnormal bleeding from the vagina
- Sense of pelvic heaviness
Additional symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:
- Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation
- A persistent lack of energy
- Low back pain
- Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
- Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
These symptoms may be caused by ovarian cancer or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to check with a doctor about any of these symptoms.
To find the cause of symptoms, a doctor evaluates a woman's medical
history. The doctor also performs a physical exam and orders diagnostic tests.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms to O
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