Medical Keywords - Everything you need to know about health.

Ovarian Cancer and The Elusive Symptoms

A disease that affects one or both ovaries and is one of the most under-recognized illness-affecting women is called ovarian cancer. It is recognized as the fifth most fatal gynecologic cancers women face today. Over half of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, die within five years of the diagnosis.

Ovarian cancer can affect one or both ovaries and it can also spread into the uterus, abdomen or other parts of the body such as the breast. It is when the cancer is spreading when the woman usually can detect symptoms.

Ovarian tumors can be either benign or malignant. It is the malignant ones that are cancerous.

The most common ovarian cancer is known as epithelial cancer. This cancer is the one where the abnormal growth arises from the epithelial cells. The epithelial cells are the ones covering the surfaces of the ovaries.

Common symptoms women detect:

Women will usually not detect any symptoms at all in the early stage of ovarian cancer when the cancer would be easier to treat and have the best prognosis.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer may be mistaken as symptoms of other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome since the first symptoms are usually vague abdominal discomfort, pain or bloating. Another symptom is that of feeling full even when only a small amount of food is eaten. The unusual bloating or swelling is the most common reason women go to the doctor to be checked. It is more than what she experiences during her monthly bloating. The bloating is usually accompanied by digestive disturbances such as changes in bowel habits that cannot be explained away. Changes in urinary patterns may also be a symptom that can be attributed erroneously to a urinary tract infection. Other common symptoms are nausea, fatigue and vomiting. The woman with ovarian cancer may also feel pain when she has intercourse.

A doctor may detect a swelling in the pelvic area, which may be accompanied by pain. A postmenopausal woman may experience unusual vaginal bleeding. Women may also experience weight gain or weight loss, heavier and longer than usual menstrual bleeding.

Symptoms detected by screening:

Some symptoms of ovarian cancer can be detected by screening tests. Screening tests are usually performed on women who are considered high risk for ovarian cancer. Women at high risk may be those who have had breast cancer, who have other family members with ovarian cancer or those women who have never had children. Screening is important for these women because the ovarian cancer can be detected by these tests in the early stage when it is easier to treat and the prognosis is better.

Two screening tests that are easy to perform are a pelvic exam and a rectal exam.