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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are nonspecific and mimic those of many other more common conditions, including digestive and bladder disorders. A woman with ovarian cancer may be diagnosed with another condition before finally learning she has cancer. Common misdiagnoses include irritable bowel syndrome, stress and depression.
The key seems to be persistent or worsening signs and symptoms. With most digestive disorders, symptoms tend to come and go, or they occur in certain situations or after eating certain foods. With ovarian cancer, there's typically little fluctuation — symptoms are constant and gradually worsen.
Recent studies have shown that women with ovarian cancer are more likely than are other women to consistently experience the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating
- Urinary urgency
- Pelvic discomfort or pain
Additional signs and symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:
- Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
- Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
- Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full
- Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
- Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
- A persistent lack of energy
- Low back pain
- Changes in menstruation
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have swelling, bloating, pressure or pain in your abdomen or pelvis that lasts for more than a few weeks. If you've already seen a doctor and received a diagnosis other than ovarian cancer, but you're not getting relief from the treatment, schedule a follow-up visit with your doctor or get a second opinion. Make sure that a pelvic exam is a part of your evaluation.
If you have a history of ovarian cancer or a strong history of breast cancer in your family, strongly consider seeing a doctor trained to detect and care for ovarian cancer patients so that you can talk about screening, genetic testing and treatment options while you are disease-free.
- Detailed guide: Ovarian cancer. American Cancer Society. http://documents.cancer.org/114.00/114.00.pdf. Accessed Aug. 20, 2008.
- Goff B. Early detection of ovarian cancer: Role of symptom recognition. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 19, 2008.
- Chan LM, et al. Epithelial ovarian cancer: Clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation, staging, and histopathology. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 19, 2008.
- Chan LM, et al. Epithelial ovarian cancer: Pathogenesis, epidemiology, and risk factors. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 19, 2008.
- Zhou B, et al. Hormone replacement therapy and ovarian cancer risk: A meta-analysis. Gynecologic Oncology. 2008;108(3): 641-651
- Carlson KJ, et al. Patient information: Ovarian cancer screening. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 19, 2008.
- Ovarian cancer: Treatment guidelines for patients. National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/CRI/NCCN_Ovarian_Cancer_2007.pdf. Accessed Aug. 19, 2008.
- Herzog TJ, et al. Patient information: Ovarian cancer treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 19, 2008.
- Benefits of good nutrition. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_6_2X_Benefits_of_nutrition_during_treatment.asp?sitearea=MBC. Accessed Aug. 24, 2008.
- Muto MG, et al. Risk reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in women at high risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 19, 2008.
- Timothy Moynihan (expert review). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 28, 2008.
