know the symptoms

Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Calendar

The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

  • bloating 
  • pelvic/abdominal pain
  • trouble eating or feeling full quickly
  • urinary symptoms such as urgency or frequency

Women with ovarian cancer report that symptoms are persistent and represent a change from normal for thier bodies.  The frequency and/or number of such symptoms are key factors in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.  Several studies show that even early-stage ovarian cancer can produce these symptoms.  These symptoms are also commonly caused by benign (non-cancerous) diseases and by cancers of other organs.  If a woman has these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks, she should see her doctor, preferably a gynecologists,  Prompt medical evaluation may laed to detection at the earliest possible stage of disease.  Early-stage diagnosis is associated with an improved prognosis.

Several other symptoms have been commonly reported by women with of ovarian cancer which include:

  • fatigue
  • upset stomach
  • back pain
  • pain during intercourse
  • constipation
  • menstrual changes

However, these other symptoms are not as useful in identifying ovarian cancer because they are also found in equal frequency in women in the general population who do not have ovarian cancer.1

Risk Factors

In addition to taking notice of any symptoms, there are also risk factors for ovarian cancer that women should be aware of:

  • Age—65% of diagnosed women are 55 or older, with the median age being 63
  • Early age at first period
  • Late age at menopause
  • Personal or family history of breast, ovarian, fallopian tube, or colon cancer
  • Reproductive history and infertility -- there is an increased risk in women who began menstruating before they turned 12, had no children, had their first child after they turned 30, and/or had menopause after age 50. Infertility also appears to increase the risk
  • Caucasian
  • History of endometriosis

Although having one or more of these risk factors can increase the chances of getting ovarian cancer, it is important to know that all women are at risk and early detection is the key to improved prognosis and survival rates.

Click here for additional risk factor information

1 2010 State of the State of Gynecologic Cancers, Gynecologic Cancer Foundation