Ovarian Cancer
Symptoms
In some cases, ovarian cancer may not cause early symptoms. But most women do have symptoms, even in the early stages. The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:4
- Recent, frequent bloating.
- Pain in your belly or pelvis.
- Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly.
- Urinary problems, such as an urgent need to urinate or urinating more often than usual.
If you have one or more of these symptoms, and it occurs almost daily for more than 2 or 3 weeks, talk with your doctor.
These symptoms are common for some women, and they may not mean that you have ovarian cancer. But the early symptoms of ovarian cancer follow a specific pattern:
- They start suddenly.
- They feel different than your normal digestive or menstrual problems.
- They happen almost every day and don't go away.
Other symptoms that affect some women with ovarian cancer include:
- Fatigue.
- Indigestion.
- Back pain.
- Pain with intercourse.
- Constipation.
- Menstrual cycle changes.
But these symptoms are also common in some women who don't have ovarian cancer.
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| Author: | Bets Davis, MFA | Last Updated: June 15, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Ross Berkowitz, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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