Ovarian cancer is more likely to survive if caught early, before it has spread beyond the ovaries. According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate for early-stage ovarian cancer is 93 to 98 percent.
According to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 1 in 78 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their lifetime. But 4 out of 5 people with this cancer are not diagnosed in the early stages, because the symptoms of ovarian cancer are easy to miss.
So what are the silent signals of ovarian cancer? Let’s take a closer look at what is known about the symptoms that are often overlooked.
Why is ovarian cancer often undiagnosed?
In the early stages, ovarian cancer does not show any noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are often associated with more common conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or urinary tract infections.
For many, this means ovarian cancer is not detected until it has spread. This can ultimately reduce the survival rate of this type of cancer.
What are the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer?
As mentioned earlier, many of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer overlap with the symptoms of other common diseases. In most cases, these symptoms are not cancer.
But waiting, ignoring your symptoms, or hoping they go away isn’t the safest option. You are the expert on your own body. So if something feels wrong or abnormal, trust your instincts and contact your doctor or health professional as soon as possible.
Let’s take a closer look at 7 silent warning signs of ovarian cancer that are often overlooked or overlooked.
- Bloating
Bloating is normal during menstruation or after eating certain foods. But bloating that doesn’t go away is a common symptom of ovarian cancer.
About 72 percent of people with ovarian cancer report bloating. Some people describe bloating as:
It looks like you are pregnant.
It digs your clothes into your waist.
This makes it difficult to button or zip up your pants.
Bloating is usually associated with fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. This is due to changes in the blood supply and drainage of the abdominal cavity.
Fluid accumulation is a concern because free-floating tumor cells can move from one part of the body to another through fluid.
- Abdominal and pelvic pain
One of the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer is abdominal and pelvic pain. According to a recent study, about 39 percent of women with this diagnosis had abdominal pain.
What the pain feels like can vary from person to person. Some feel that this is a strong pressure. According to a trusted source, it feels like you’re getting your period, like it’s being held or squeezed inside you.
What exactly is causing the pain can also be different. As the tumor grows, it can put pressure on other parts of your body, including your stomach, bladder, rectum, and back.