Although ovarian cancer only ranks 10th among the most common malignancies diagnosed in women in the US, it ranks 5th in terms of tumor-related deaths among women. Even with advances in treatment, the five-year survival rate after diagnosis is only around 46%. If it is detected early, in stage I, the five-year survival rate is 90%. Unfortunately, most cases are not detected until they are quite advanced. Here are some early warning signs of ovarian tumors to watch out for:
1. Abdominal bloating
Ovarian tumors develop on the surface of the ovary or on the nearby Fallopian tubes. Both of these structures are located deep within the pelvis, between the hips. Your intestines are located in and around the ovaries. When an ovarian tumor develops and starts to grow, it can push against the intestines. One of the most common initial signs of an ovarian tumor is a vague sense of pressure and fullness in the abdomen, which most women attribute to intestinal gas causing abdominal bloating.
2. Indigestion or nausea
Unlike most organs, the ovaries and Fallopian tubes are not encased inside any kind of barrier. If a tumor forms, cancerous cells can easily fall off the tumor and spread inside the abdomen, attaching to other organs and to the membrane lining the abdomen (the peritoneum). Irritated by the malignant cells, this membrane secretes a fluid called ascites, which can contribute to a feeling of bloating. It can also disrupt the function of the stomach and cause nausea and indigestion.
3. Loss of appetite and appetite changes
This symptom is caused by the same mechanism described above. Some people feel nauseated and others just stop feeling hungry at all. This symptom is also related to the mass effect of the ovarian tumor in the abdomen and any ascites, if present. Your stomach isn’t full; it just doesn’t have the usual amount of room to expand into, so you feel full before you have eaten your normal amount of food.
4. Pressure in the pelvis or lower back
Depending on the location of the ovarian tumor, it may push into the muscles of the pelvis and back instead of into the intestines. Instead of vague digestive tract symptoms, these women feel pressure and discomfort in the back and/or pelvis.
5. Frequent or urgent need to urinate
The bladder is tucked in underneath and between the ovaries. As an ovarian tumor grows, it can put pressure on the bladder. Women find themselves needing to urinate much more often, sometimes accompanied by an urgent need to do so when the filling bladder presses against the tumor.
6. Changes in bowel movements
The mass and irritating effects of an ovarian tumor can disrupt bowel function. Some women experience bouts of diarrhea, some experience constipation, and some alternate between the two. Others transition from being extremely regular to being extremely irregular in their bowel movements.
All of the above symptoms are vague and resemble irritable bowel syndrome, urinary tract infections, and nonspecific lower back pain. Women who present with one or more of these symptoms are very often misdiagnosed. If your symptoms last for several weeks, are worsening, and are not responding to dietary changes, you should insist upon further testing, especially if you are 55 years or older and if anyone in your close family has been diagnosed with ovarian, pancreatic, or breast cancer.
