Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer may cause only mild or nonspecific (usually nonspecific abdominal distress or fullness, back pain, or increasing girth) symptoms until the later stages. Most of the symptoms are due to a large tumor mass inside your pelvis. Seventy-five percent of women with ovarian cancer will have stage three or greater at the time of diagnosis. Because of this, it is essential that women of all ages know what to look for so that early complaints can result in earlier diagnoses, earlier treatment, and better cure rates. It is also important to have regular pelvic examination because this may provide an early diagnosis even in the absence of any significant symptoms.

Ovarian Cancer

Symptoms include:

Abdominal discomfort and/or pain
Gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, or cramps
Nausea, diarrhea , constipation , or frequent urination
Loss of appetite
Feeling of fullness even after only a light meal
Unexplained weight gain or loss
Abnormal bleeding from the vagina

Note: These symptoms may be caused by another, less serious health condition. If you have persistence of any of these symptoms, see your doctor.

References

Kasper DL, Harrison TR. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1998.

Ovarian cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ovarian/ . Accessed April 8, 2009.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Igor Puzanov, MD
Review Date: 10/2012
Update Date: 10/31/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.