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So what are the common signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer? To answer this question, researchers from the University of Minnesota in the United States recently reviewed medical records of 107 women diagnosed over a 12-year period to 1997. They published their findings in this month's Mayo Clinic Proceedings. They found that:
the most common presenting symptom (in 22 per cent of cases) was crampy abdominal pain which lasted for longer than two weeks, and wasn't associated with diarrhoea or vomiting;
18 percent had urinary symptoms such as incontinence (lack of bladder control) that grew increasingly worse over a two or three week period;
in fewer than a quarter of cases were there gynaecological symptoms, like irregular vaginal bleeding.
Other symptoms sometimes associated with the condition include:
gastro-intestinal symptoms such as heartburn, nausea and bloating;
changes in bowel habits, such as constipation and diarrhoea;
tiredness and appetite loss;
unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
However, the ovaries are hidden away inside the pelvis, nestled among other organs and fat deposits. Cancer of the ovary can grow quite large and spread before it starts to produce these symptoms. In 15 per cent of the women in the US study for example, the ovarian cancer was discovered while the woman was being investigated for some other condition.
http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2004/12/02/1256123.htm
the most common presenting symptom (in 22 per cent of cases) was crampy abdominal pain which lasted for longer than two weeks, and wasn't associated with diarrhoea or vomiting;
18 percent had urinary symptoms such as incontinence (lack of bladder control) that grew increasingly worse over a two or three week period;
in fewer than a quarter of cases were there gynaecological symptoms, like irregular vaginal bleeding.
Other symptoms sometimes associated with the condition include:
gastro-intestinal symptoms such as heartburn, nausea and bloating;
changes in bowel habits, such as constipation and diarrhoea;
tiredness and appetite loss;
unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
However, the ovaries are hidden away inside the pelvis, nestled among other organs and fat deposits. Cancer of the ovary can grow quite large and spread before it starts to produce these symptoms. In 15 per cent of the women in the US study for example, the ovarian cancer was discovered while the woman was being investigated for some other condition.
http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2004/12/02/1256123.htm
Just to add to what marie3B said, the most common form of Ovarian Ca - Epitheal gives the symptoms marie3B stated. There are other types of ovarian cancer that are hormone driven and depending which form a person has there will be excess hormone secretion= excess symptoms of that specific hormone ie; Progesterone and or Estrogen
Sometimes no symptoms are noticed because they can be so vague, or can easily be explained away by other causes, such as menstrual problems, fatigue, approaching menopause. Common symptoms many of us had are bloating, feeling full in the stomach, urinary frequency, back pain, bowel problems, abdominal discomfort or pain....... If you don't feel right, go for a good gyn check-up and express your concerns. Be persistant. Often as women we get blown off by docs as just having female problems. Marie
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