Ovarian cancer is an insidious disease that many gynecologists refer to as “the silent killer.” The reason why specialists in gynecology call ovarian cancer “the silent killer” is because the disease doesn’t show any signs and symptoms until it reaches the terminal stage.
The best way to have a peace of mind that you are free of ovarian cancer is to undergo the Pap test every year after you turn 21. However, there are also some early warning signs of ovarian cancer that shouldn’t be ignored and which include:
1. Abdominal Pain
Women who experience pain in the pelvic area that doesn’t feel like menstrual cramps or pain due to indigestion should get an appointment with their OB/GYN because that could be a sign of developing ovarian cancer.
Most women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had abdominal pain before the diagnosis say the pain in their pelvic area lasted for 2 weeks.
2. Indigestion
Indigestion, heartburn, frequent bloating, gas, and other frequent gastrointestinal issues might be caused by something more sinister than gastrointestinal infections.
3. Appetite Loss
Ovarian cancer, just like many other types of cancer, causes its sufferer to lose appetite. If you started to dislike foods you once liked, tell about that symptom to your doctor.
4. Bloating
Frequent bloating in your pelvic area or belly is another sign of early ovarian cancer. If your bloating is so intense that you can’t fit clothes around your waist, immediately visit your doctor.
5. Frequent Urination
Peeing frequently and losing your bladder control are two telltale signs of ovarian cancer. If these symptoms persist for more than a week, visit your doctor.
6. Feeling Satiated Fast
Believe it or not, but ovarian cancer can cause women to feel full just after a few pieces of food being eaten. That’s because ovarian cancer can sometimes send their cells in the intestines.
7. Constipation and Diarrhea
If you often experience a change in your bowel movements marked by alternating diarrhea and constipation, you should tell about that to your doctor because that could indicate you have a tumor in your ovaries that started to invade your abdominal organs.
8. Pain in the Lower Back
A pain in the lower back that could be described as a dull, achy, and persistent pain is often a sign of a developing ovarian cancer. Many women who experience this type of pain explain that it feels like labor pain in the back.
9. Weight Loss
Losing more than 10 pounds in a month without dieting or exercising hard often indicates the presence of early ovarian cancer.
10. Bleeding “Down There”
Almost a quarter of women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer reported that they experienced unusual bleeding from “down there” before they got the diagnosis.
This means that you should report every bleeding that’s not a part of your natural menstrual cycle to your doctor. Other changes that happen in the area down there due to ovarian cancer include thick white discharge, changes in skin color of your intimate organ, and sores.