Health Care

By: Trevor Price

If a woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer during the early stages of the disease, her survival rates are excellent (75%) - that means it's critical to keep an eye on potential ovarian cancer warning signs.

A woman's chances of survival are strong if the ovarian cancer is caught early, but approximately 75% of women are diagnosed after it has already spread beyond the ovaries, and this is when survival rates drop to only around 20 or 30 percent.

To learn more about symptoms and signs of ovarian cancer that you should watch out for, read on.

Bloating

Constant and persistent bloating is often a clear indicator of ovarian cancer, especially if it's a significant change in a patient's bloating habits. So, if you've noticed an increase in how much and how often you're bloating, talk to you doctor.

Pelvic and Stomach Discomfort

Chronic pelvis and stomach pain along with constipation and digestion problems are more common in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Loss of Appetite and Decreased Weight

Like many cancer patients, one of the clearest ovarian cancer warning signs is a significantly decreased appetite, trouble eating and, subsequently, significant weight loss. Patients who often feel full after eating just a little bit of food or who have recently developed trouble eating should consult a doctor.

Urinary Problems

Urinary incontinence and a frequent or urgent need to urinate are both common symptoms of ovarian cancer. Patients often compare these symptoms and warning signs to a painless urinary tract infection (UTI). That is, the increased need to urinate but without the burning or pain during urination often associated with a UTI.

Fatigue and Pain

Unfortunately, the fatigue and back pain experienced by many patients with ovarian cancer is similar to pre-menstrual symptoms experienced by many women without the disease. The systems are generalized and not specific enough, but they can be helpful when diagnosing the problem.

One clear indicator is if the symptoms are persistent and almost daily rather than restricted to a specific period. However, other symptoms should be present before the patient is screened for cancer.

Genealogy

If you know that your family has a history of ovarian cancer, it's important to tell your doctor and be screened or evaluated on an ongoing basis. Essentially, if one immediate family member or two members of your extended family have been diagnosed with the disease, then it could be a clear warning sign and an indicator that you need to watch out for possible symptoms.

The good news is that even early stage ovarian cancer can produce many of these warning signs, and early detection often results in a stronger prognosis. So, watch your body, be aware of changes and don't be afraid to consult with your physician.

Given the cost and time associated with a medical visit, many people simply do not want to bother with an appointment and would rather assume that warning indicators of a potential problem are insignificant. This is a dangerous assumption, especially if you are experiencing multiple symptoms. Go ahead and schedule the visit just to be sure.