Many of these symptoms are things you might notice regularly, like bloating and fatigue, but its frequent occurrence is a cause for concern.
One of the critical types of cancer that can affect a woman's reproductive system is ovarian cancer. Part of your reproductive system is the pair of ovaries that you have on either side, and ovarian cancer originates from this area. It’s important for women to know the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer so that they don’t dismiss it to be something else. Getting yourself the right treatment can give you much better chances of recovery.
Some of the factors that could increase your risk of ovarian cancer are aging, having a family member on either side of the family who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, or you have previously had breast cancer, uterine cancer or colorectal cancer, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although there are no definite ways of avoiding ovarian cancer, you might lower your risk if you have used birth control pills for about five or more years. If you have undergone medical procedures like having your tubes tied, your ovaries removed, or your uterus and cervix taken out surgically, this could also reduce your chances of experiencing ovarian cancer. Women who have previously given birth and have breastfed are also less likely to develop ovarian cancer.
A number of the symptoms mentioned below are things that women experience normally in the midst of their daily routines, and they could be caused due to a number of other reasons as well. One thing that you can do is check whether you experience these symptoms more than 12 times a month, according to cancer.org. This could be more of an indication that the symptoms should be something to worry about and seek medical help. Some of the symptoms that you need to watch out for are as follows:
One of the early signs of ovarian cancer that you may notice is the feeling of wanting to urinate more often than usual. This could be because the tumor has started growing and putting pressure on your bladder, or it could be because of the hormonal changes that your body is undergoing because of the tumor. If you also notice an abnormal vaginal discharge as well, it could be the effect of ovarian cancer.
You may frequently feel a bit of bloating or swelling, maybe after having a heavy meal or sometime before your period starts. But if you notice this abdominal bloating over an unusually longer period of time, it could be a sign of ovarian cancer. Whether it’s mild to severe bloating, if you notice that your waist feels bigger than usual or your clothes are clinging on to your waistline, it could be reason to worry if it becomes an everyday thing.
A woman’s menstrual cycle could help indicate a number of things. If you notice certain changes in your period, feel like your flow is no longer regular or that you are bleeding a lot more than usual, it could be a sign of ovarian cancer.
Experiencing pain in your pelvis might also be something that you normally experience during your menstrual cycle. But if you notice that the pain is lingering on for longer than usual, and you feel some pressure or discomfort in that area, it could point towards ovarian cancer.
When ovarian cancer starts progressing over an extended period of time, the pain or discomfort might start occurring in other areas as well. Even your lower back and your thighs might start aching. If you start experiencing this kind of dull ache and it’s not normal for you, it’s best to understand the cause behind it.
If you notice that your eating habits have changed over a period of time, it could be a result of ovarian cancer. Sometimes you might notice some difficulty as you eat, or you might notice that you are getting full faster than you normally do. When it comes to digestion, you might notice some discomfort there too. Feelings of indigestion or constipation might start occurring as an effect of ovarian cancer.
Experiencing discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse could be caused due to various medical conditions, one of which is ovarian cancer. The pain may begin when you start having sex and even persist for a while after it. You might either feel like one side hurts more than the other, or you might feel like that general area hurts.
One of the symptoms that could be common across different types of cancers is fatigue. This could be because as the cancer progresses, the cancer cells start fighting with the healthy cells for more energy. And this could drain out your energy, making you feel unusually tired or fatigued.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/basic_info/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/basic_info/symptoms.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/basic_info/prevention.htm
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html
https://www.verywellhealth.com/ovarian-cancer-symptoms-514265
https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer/symptoms
