How would I know if I had ovarian cancer?

Posted in ovarian cancer, symptoms; Comments 1 ; Posted 3 years ago by Andreas Obermair

Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumour arising from one or both ovaries, which can spread throughout the pelvis and abdomen if not treated early. Ovarian cancer may cause a range of different signs and symptoms. The symptoms for ovarian cancer can be unspecific, similar to other common illnesses and may be more likely to present at later stages.

There is no screening test for ovarian cancer, so it’s important for women to be aware of signs and symptoms. Cervical Screening Tests do not detect ovarian cancer (they only examine cells from the cervix). Patients who had a hysterectomy can develop ovarian cancer if the ovaries were preserved (typically done to avoid developing menopause when the patient is less than 50 years of age). So even if you have received a recent normal Cervical Screening Test result, if you are experiencing any of the below abnormal symptoms you should visit a GP in the first instance.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Include:

• Bloating
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly after eating a small amount
• Frequent or urgent urination
• Abdominal or pelvic pain
• Increase in abdominal size.

Other symptoms

• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Menstrual irregularities (such as heavier bleeding than normal or irregular bleeding)
• Bleeding after menopause
• Extreme tiredness
• Indigestion or nausea
• Pain during intercourse or bleeding after
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Lower back pain.

If you have one or more of these symptoms and if they are persistent on most days over 2-4 weeks, then you should speak to a doctor.

It’s possible to have signs and symptoms in the early stages of disease. When ovarian patients look back, most say they displayed some of the above signs. However, sometimes signs and symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, an upset stomach or bladder infections.

When diagnosed at Stage 1 (while the cancer is only in the ovaries), patients have a good prognosis and survival rates are over 90%. Survival rates for late-stage ovarian cancer reduces to 30% and requires much more extensive treatment.

If you have any signs or symptoms of ovarian cancer, they are persistent and unusual, you should speak to your GP in the first instance.

Main risk factors for developing ovarian cancer include:

• Family history of ovarian cancer
• Previous breast cancer diagnosis
• Those with endometriosis
• Overweight or obese
• Have never been pregnant or had a pregnancy after age 35
• Women who have taken hormone replacement therapy
• BRCA gene mutations
• Smoking
• Older age. Most ovarian cancers develop in women after menopause, and ovarian cancer in women younger than 40 years is rare.

Ovarian Cancer Australia have a symptom diary, this can be downloaded and completed prior to your appointment. This will help your doctor have a better understanding of your symptom frequency and severity.

If your doctor suspects you have ovarian cancer, blood tests (serum CA125) and medical scans (ultrasound, CT scan) will be requested. The only way to confirm ovarian cancer is through a biopsy, where the doctor takes a tissue sample, and it’s examined under a microscope.

For more information on diagnosing and treating ovarian cancer, visit the Ovarian Cancer page.

If you are concerned about any of these symptoms and wish to discuss them with a Gynaecological Oncologist, please enquire about an appointment.