Bloating is a common sign of ovarian cancer.
But also loss of appetite, increased urge to urinate and back pain are signs you should watch out for.
Around 11 women die from the disease every day in the UK – or 4,000 a year. Figures show that it kills three times as many people in the US each year.
DR Sharon Tate, Head of Primary Care Development at the charity Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “Without an effective screening tool, knowing the symptoms of this disease can give us a head start in diagnosing ovarian cancer at the earliest possible stage.
Bloating is a common sign of ovarian cancer. But also loss of appetite, increased urge to urinate and back pain are signs you should watch out for
“Currently two-thirds of cases are diagnosed late and one in seven women die within two months of ovarian cancer diagnosis.
“If the diagnosis is made at the earliest stage, the cancer is easier to treat.”
Here, MailOnline reveals the bizarre warning signs for March’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Bloated stomach
This is usually a sign that you are constipated – or a side effect of fizzy drinks.
But persistent bloating is also a symptom of ovarian cancer that shouldn’t be ignored, experts say.
According to the charity Target Ovarian Cancer, only one in five women know that bloating is a sign of ovarian cancer.
Some women develop visible masses the size of a soccer ball that can be mistaken for a pregnancy bump.
Ovarian Cancer Action explains that bloating can also be the result of ascites, the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
Cancer Research UK explains: “When cancer cells spread to the abdominal wall (peritoneum), they can irritate it and cause fluid to build up. Cancer can also block part of the lymphatic system, preventing fluid from draining normally from the abdomen.”
Bloating and feeling full easily are both signs of ovarian cancer. According to the charity Ovarian Cancer Action, some women develop visible masses the size of a football, which can be mistaken for a pregnancy bump
Quick feeling of satiety
Loss of appetite – or feeling full after eating – can be another sign of ovarian cancer.
Like bloating, this early satiety can be caused by a tumor or ascites.
This can prevent you from feeling hungry as the fluid pushes against other organs in your stomach.
The Gynae Centre, a private clinic in London, says if it affects the digestive tract it can “cause nausea, discomfort or even bloating”.
backache
Back pain is a common symptom of ovarian cancer, but it’s usually just dismissed as something else.
The tumor can cause persistent pain in the abdomen, hips and pelvis.
While it sounds like it’s unrelated to ovarian cancer, if the tumor spreads to the abdomen or pelvis, it can irritate tissues in the lower back, experts say.
If the pain is persistent, new to you and not readily attributable to other factors, you should seek advice from your GP.
The NHS says that although it’s a symptom that can be caused by many different conditions, it’s still important to get it checked out by a GP because if it’s cancerous, it can be more treatable if it’s caught early.
Need to urinate more
Going to the bathroom more often can be a sign of an infection. But it can also be a symptom of ovarian cancer.
However, this cancer sign is not widely known. According to Target Ovarian Cancer, only 1 in 100 women know about it.
According to Dr. Tate, the urge to urinate can be caused by a tumor or ascites.
When a tumor grows in the pelvic area, in this case on the ovaries, it can push against the bladder, making you have to go to the bathroom more often.
Internal pressure can also block your ureters, which are the tubes that connect the kidney to the bladder, according to Cancer Research. When this happens, urine cannot drain, which can cause the kidney to swell.
If you have an urgent need to urinate, or need to urinate more often, you should see your GP, according to the NHS.
When a tumor grows in the pelvic area, in this case on the ovaries, it can press against the bladder, leading to more frequent trips to the toilet. If you only see a small amount of urine come out when you urinate, experts say it could be a sign that something is pressing on your bladder
Unusual bleeding from the vagina
Bleeding between periods or even after menopause can be a sign of ovarian cancer.
In most women, abnormal bleeding is a sign of hormonal imbalance, but experts say it should be checked.
Heavy and irregular bleeding, especially between periods, are warning signs of a tumor.
Dr Tate said: “Any unusual vaginal bleeding before or after menopause should always be assessed by a GP.
“If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor. It could be nothing, but it’s best to be safe.
“For more information about ovarian cancer and support, visit the Target Ovarian Cancer website.”
This is because a tumor on your ovary can affect your menstrual cycle and hormones.
According to the American Cancer Society, many tumors produce the female hormone estrogen, which can cause vaginal bleeding even if you’ve already gone through mesopause.
WHY OVARIAN CANCER IS CALLED A “SILENT KILLER”.
About 80 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease.
By the time it is diagnosed, 60 percent of ovarian cancer has already spread to other parts of the body, reducing the five-year survival rate from 90 percent in the earliest stages to 30 percent.
according to Dr. Ronny Drapkin, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania who has studied the disease for more than 20 years, the disease is diagnosed so late because of its location in the pelvis.
“The pelvis is like a bowl, so a tumor there can get quite large before it’s really noticeable,” said Dr. Drapkin the Daily Mail Online.
The first symptoms that occur with ovarian cancer are gastrointestinal, as tumors can push upwards.
When a patient complains of gastrointestinal symptoms, doctors focus on dietary changes and other causes rather than ovarian cancer screening.
Dr. Drapkin said screening is usually only done after persistent gastrointestinal symptoms to detect the cancer.
“Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer because it doesn’t have early symptoms, when in fact it does have symptoms, but it’s just very common and can be caused by other things,” he said.
“One of the things I tell women is that no one knows your body better than you. If you feel something is wrong, then something is probably wrong.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
