Ovarian Cancer
When To Call a Doctor
In some cases, ovarian cancer may not cause early symptoms. But most women do have symptoms, even in the early stages. These symptoms may be caused by other problems. But if you have one or more of the following symptoms, and it occurs almost daily for more than 2 or 3 weeks, talk to your doctor:
- Recent, frequent bloating.
- Pain in your belly or pelvis.
- Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly.
- Urinary problems, such as feeling an urgent need to urinate or urinating more often than usual.
These symptoms may be 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.
The symptoms may not seem bad enough for a woman to seek medical care. But getting medical care right away may help find ovarian cancer at an early stage. A woman has a better chance of successful treatment when ovarian cancer is found early.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your condition or symptoms without using medical treatment. Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you have symptoms that do not go away. If you are concerned about your symptoms and you have a higher risk for ovarian cancer, call and make an appointment with your doctor.
Who To See
Health professionals who can evaluate your symptoms and your risk for ovarian cancer include:
- Nurse practitioner.
- Physician assistant.
- Internist.
- Gynecologist.
- Obstetrician.
- Family medicine physician.
Doctors who can manage your cancer treatment include:
- Gynecologic oncologist. Your long-term outcome (prognosis) is improved if you are under the care of an experienced gynecologic oncologist. His or her expertise can help determine the best treatment choices at the time of the initial surgery.4
- Medical oncologist (often called an "oncologist").
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
 Go to previous section |  Go to top of page |  Go to next section |
| Author: | Bets Davis, MFA | Last Updated: June 15, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Ross Berkowitz, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
 | ||
