Learn to Recognize the First Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women. The primary reason for this is that it is so rarely discovered in time – the symptoms go unnoticed for months, or even years, and by the time they are connected to cancer, it is already too late. That’s why it is crucial for all women to know what the ten most telling signs of ovarian cancer are.

• Early satiety

Advanced ovarian cancer can form a tumor that sits on your intestines or stomach, causing you to feel “full”, even though you’ve had a small meal or you can normally eat more. This may be cause for concern.

• Losing weight suddenly

While most women would probably welcome this change and consider it positive, suddenly losing around 10 pounds is known to be one of the early signs of ovarian cancer. If this happens in absence of exercising or dieting, address your doctor.

• Persistent abdominal pain

Women have frequent abdominal pains, such as while menstruating or ovulating, but these pains feel differently. In addition, they are persistent and do not coincide with either of those normal occurrences. Should this happen, get a check-up.

• Feeling bloated

Bloating is very common and a lot of women suffer from it, which is why this symptom goes unnoticed. But if you find that you are more bloated than usual, or that it won’t go away and your clothes are starting to feel tight, you may want to check with a medical professional.

• Suffering from diarrhea and constipation

The tumor can also cause discomfort for the bladder and bowel, not only the stomach, which is why you may find yourself suffering from more frequent constipation and diarrhea. If you notice changing bowel habits, it may raise a red flag.

• Irregular bleeding

Many women experience irregular vaginal bleeding, but that doesn’t mean it is completely normal. If you’ve never had this happen to you before, it is worth monitoring it to ensure that everything is okay.

• Back pain

A lot of women who were cancer patients have reported experiencing persistent pains in their lower backside. Dull aches that will not subdue and which are not unlike labor pains can be a sign of ovarian cancer.

• Indigestion

As mentioned before, ovarian cancer can also impact other areas and processes in your body, including your digestive system. Indigestion, nausea, heartburn and gas can all indicate an unwelcome change that can be linked to ovarian cancer.

• Frequent urination

Feeling the need to go to urinate more than usual or a sudden inability to wait until you have access to the bathroom can be an indicator of ovarian cancer. In addition, you may also experience incontinence, so that’s something to watch out for.

• Loss of appetite

A loss of appetite, for someone who normally has quite a healthy one, can signal a problem with your metabolism that is caused by the installation of ovarian cancer in your system.