The abdomen is the place where most of the organs are placed. That’s why it’s very hard to diagnose ovarian cancer, especially in the early stage, because the symptoms and pain are similar to other possible diseases.
So, we can agree that ovarian cancer does not show any specific symptomatic characteristics in the early stages. If you feel pressure on the bladder, uterus or rec**m, possibly the cancer got bigger and is putting extra pressure on those tissues.
However, here’s a big list of symptoms, which are highly likely to happen even if you don’t have an early stage of ovarian cancer, but be sure to make a biopsy if you have experienced the majority of the following:
- Painful s*x
- Menstrual changes
- Constipation
- Back pain
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Unexplainable exhaustion
- A pressure in the lower back
- The need to urinate more frequently
- Weight loss
- Abdominal swellings
If the development of these symptoms in your body is sudden, or continues in some period of time, regardless on the normal treatments for these symptoms, you should definitely see your doctor.
Your family doctor, or gynecologist should be the first one to know, since we don’t want to upset anyone if we’re not sure in the diagnosis.
Also, there are certain RISK FACTORS that make some people more vulnerable and more likely to get ovarian cancer. Those include:
- Endometriosis
- Obesity
- Never being pregnant
- Presence of the Lynch syndrome
- Having BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene
- After menopause
- On the other hand, factors that LOWER the RISK of getting ovarian cancer are:
- Getting pregnant
- Breastfeeding
- Having your ovaries removed (normally, not if you’re a young girl)
The diagnosis
We agreed that if you have the majority of the mentioned symptoms and they appear repeatedly, you should pay your doctor a visit. He/she will start asking when the symptoms began and how they respond with the normal treatment, how often they occur, how you feel at the moment etc.
Than, the doctor will read your and your family’s medical history, especially the ovarian or breast cancer in the women. Than, the doctor will schedule a pelvic exam, which is needed to see if the ovaries are somehow bigger or if there’s additional fluid in your abdomen.