Ovarian Cancer Signs Can Be Hard To Notice, So Here’s How To Know When To Get Screened
Many people experience annoying but relatively minor symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain or changes in appetite or bathroom habits from time to time. If they occur, you may think it's due to something you ate or a gastrointestinal issue. But in some cases, the symptoms you're experiencing could be early warning signs of ovarian cancer if you're a woman. Ovarian cancer is sometimes called a "silent" cancer because noticeable symptoms often don't appear until the cancer has already spread. When symptoms do occur, they can be vague, seem like they're not that serious or may be attributed to other common health issues. That's why ovarian cancer usually isn't diagnosed until it's at a later stage, when it's harder to treat.
Common Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
The most common signs of this disease include:
- Bloating or swelling in the belly
- Pain or pressure in the lower stomach or pelvis
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Changes in bathroom habits, such as constipation or needing to pee more often
- Back pain
- Feeling very tired all the time
- Unexplained weight loss
- Changes in your period, like heavier bleeding or irregular cycles
Some people don't experience any symptoms at all, especially in the earlier stages of the disease. If you have symptoms, you may not be sure what's causing them. So although you don't need to panic every time you feel bloated, tired or have other symptoms, pay attention to when they happen and how long they last. If symptoms occur often, don't go away after a few weeks or feel different than usual, it's worth getting them checked out. Your body often gives you clues when something isn't right and it's up to you to listen.
How Ovarian Cancer is Diagnosed
There's no routine screening test for ovarian cancer, which makes it harder to diagnose it early. Doctors may use blood tests, like the CA-125 test, or imaging tests like ultrasounds or CT scans to help figure out what's going on if you have symptoms. But these tests aren't routinely done unless a problem is suspected. That's why it's so important to speak up if you have symptoms that may possibly be due to ovarian cancer. If you are at an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, it's especially important to be more vigilant about identifying potential symptoms and requesting screening tests if something seems off. Having a family history of ovarian or breast cancer, or having certain genetic factors like BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, can raise your risk. If you fall into one of these groups, talk to your doctor about having genetic counseling or extra screening tests done.
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