September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, one of the leading causes of cancer death for women in the United States. The signs of ovarian cancer can be non-specific, making it hard to recognize.
There are no effective screening tests for the three types of ovarian cancer, and the disease can remain undetected until it reaches its advanced stages.
Gynecologist John A. Whitfield, MD, FACOG, in Fort Worth, Texas, wants his patients to know the subtle signs of ovarian cancer to be on guard against this potentially deadly condition, particularly since so many symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses.
The most common cancer affecting the ovaries is epithelial cancer, malignancies that affect the outer surface of the ovaries. There are several subtypes included in epithelial ovarian cancers.
Stromal tumors are rare, though they’re generally diagnosed sooner than other types of ovarian cancer. The third type, germ cell tumors, tends to occur at an earlier age than the other two.
Estimating your risk factor for ovarian cancer can help you take note of symptoms that it shares with other conditions. You’re more at risk of developing ovarian cancer when you have one or more of the following factors in play:
Discussing your risk factors with Dr. Whitfield can help you stay alert for symptoms of ovarian cancer that you may not realize are connected to the condition.
There are few symptoms of ovarian cancer in its early stages, and when they start, they’re often mistaken for signs of other conditions. One of the big clues that your symptoms may stem from the ovaries is the pattern of occurrence.
Symptoms caused by ovarian cancer tend to happen frequently and with different lengths and severity than episodes caused by other conditions. Here are some subtle symptoms to watch for:
The most commonly reported symptom from ovarian cancer patients, bloating, is a sign of other conditions connected with your menstrual cycle or with food consumption. Persistent bloating that doesn’t seem connected to other conditions should be a warning sign.
These symptoms are almost as frequent as bloating as a subtle sign of ovarian cancer. You may experience cramping that resembles that experienced during your menstrual cycle, or you may feel pressure-type pain that could be local or general, across your pelvis and/or belly. Stay alert for differences in frequency or intensity when comparing with other potential causes.
Bleeding and spotting between periods or after menopause may indicate ovarian cancer in rare cases. Unusual vaginal discharge can also be a subtle sign.
Ovarian cancer can cause changes to both your gastrointestinal and urinary systems. Symptoms include:
Once again, symptoms connected with ovarian cancer may seem out of step with the usual occurrences of these problems.
When something seems off, check in with John A. Whitfield, MD, FACOG, and his team. Book your appointment by calling 817-927-2229 today.
