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Ovarian cancer only affects about 3% of the female population. Even so, it is the deadliest cancer when it comes to cancers that affect the female reproductive system. Each year, approximately 21,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 66% will die from it. Not only that, many of the treatments required to beat it can cause infertility – typically radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery.
Early Detection is the Key to Catching Ovarian Cancer Before It Catches You
Most ovarian cancer is diagnosed in older women – it is rarely diagnosed in women under the age of 40 and is more often diagnosed in women who are going through or have reached menopause. Even so, annual well-woman checkups are one of the most important things you can do to catch ovarian cancer early so it can be treated as soon as possible.
Signs & Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
One of the scariest things about ovarian cancer is that it is usually asymptomatic (meaning there are no visible/tangible symptoms) until it progresses to the point that it finally causes physical side effects. By that point, it can be difficult to treat. As we mentioned above, well-woman checkups are vital to catching this reproductive cancer in its earliest stages (when treatments are the most likely to be effective and cause the least amount of residual harm).
Your OB/GYN can often tell if there are abnormal growths or unusual inflammation in your pelvic region that would indicate further exploration needs to be performed. If it isn’t caught early, ovarian cancer can begin to cause the following symptoms:
Unusual and persistent bloating. Many women experience abdominal bloating as the result of hormonal fluctuations or due to something they ate that disagrees with them. This type of bloating is cyclical and will go away within a relatively short period of time. Bloating related to ovarian cancer will not ebb and flow in most cases but, rather, will persist and become worse. Your healthcare provider should evaluate bloating or abdominal/pelvic discomfort that lasts for two weeks or more.
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly. While it might seem exciting (at first) to think your appetite has miraculously diminished, the chances of that happening are not likely. Persistent abdominal pain is often accompanied by the sensation of fullness or a feeling that you are full before you’ve come close to finishing your meal. Again, if this feeling continues, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Abdominal/pelvic discomfort. Ovarian cancer occurs in the form of tumors, and the larger they grow, the more discomfort they typically cause. You may feel crampy, bloated or full on a regular basis. Sexual intercourse may become uncomfortable and tumors can also cause lower back pain depending on where they’re located and/or which nerves they press on.
Additional signs and symptoms of ovarian tumors include:
- Urinary frequency or a feeling of a full bladder all the time
- Fatigue
- Changes in your menstrual cycle
- Constipation
- Sudden weight loss that accompanies abdominal swelling
If you experience any of the above symptoms, especially if they persist for more than a week or two, schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN.
What Happens If I am Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer?
If you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you will be referred immediately to an oncologist so you can begin treatment right away. If you are interested in preserving fertility options at this juncture, it’s also recommended that you schedule a consultation with a fertility specialist.
There are multiple options for women who face potential infertility as the result of cancer treatments. Your eggs can be frozen for future use by yourself and/or a gestational carrier if your uterus is compromised as a result of the treatments. The sooner you can learn about your fertility preservation options the better. Contact RRC to learn more.
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