Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
What is ovarian cancer?
The ovaries are reproduction part of the women. They are placed in the pelvis and every ovary is of almond size.
The female hormones are made by the ovaries such as progesterone and estrogen. They also produce the eggs and these eggs from ovary to the uterus (womb) through the fallopian.
Ovarian cancer initiated in the cells which are the building blocks of the tissues. These tissues make the organs of the body.
Generally after growing, the cells are divided and form the new cells which are needed by the body. When the cells grow, they die and the new cells take the place of old cells.
When the above process changes that are new cells are formed when body doesn't need, old cells do not die when they have to die. These additional cells create the mass of the tissues known as tumor.
Tumors can be malignant or benign:
Benign tumors are not cancer:
- Benign tumors are rarely life-threatening.
- Benign tumors do not invade the tissues around them.
- Generally, benign tumors can be removed. They usually do not grow back.
- Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
- Malignant tumors are generally more serious than benign tumors. They may be life-threatening.
- Malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.
- Malignant tumors often can be removed. But sometimes they grow back.
- Cells from malignant tumors can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells spread by breaking away from the original (primary) tumor and entering the lymphatic system or bloodstream. The cells invade other organs and form new tumors that damage these organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
Risk Factors:
Age: The age factor is responsible for increasing the risk of the ovarian cancer. The ovarian cancer mostly occurs in those women who have reached menopause. As per National Cancer Institute, the highest chances of occurrence of cancer in the women having the age more than 60 years. But it is also affects to the young women.
Family history of ovarian cancer: Family history of the patient is also responsible for causing the ovarian cancer in women. The risk is bigger when the mother or any nearer relative affected with this cancer.
Genetics: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the two genes responsible for causing the ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer symptoms:
Chances of getting cure are increases after early detection of the ovarian cancer and after the proper treatment. Ovarian cancer symptoms are very silent that is they present themselves after disease progressed to the advanced stages. Ovarian cancer symptoms are very common according to the recent research. All the women of 18 years or older can receive the annual pelvic exams.
The common signs of the ovarian cancer are nausea, indigestion, or changes in the movements of the bowel. It is not necessary that the women suffering from the ovarian cancer have the experience of pelvic pain. Ovarian cancer symptoms are given below:
- Pelvic or abdominal pain, pressure, swelling, or discomfort
- Frequency and/or urgency of urination in the absence of an infection
- Vague, but persistent, gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea, and indigestion
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits
- Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating, and/or feeling of fullness
- Leg pain
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss, particularly weight gain in the abdominal region
- Ongoing fatigue
- Pain during intercourse
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Urinary urgency (needing to get to a bathroom immediately)
- Abdominal bloating
- Urinary frequency (having to urinate often)
- Difficulty eating
- Feeling full
Diagnosis of ovarian cancer:
Ovarian cancer gets treated successfully when it is detected in the early stages. Before spreading the cancer out of the ovary, it is diagnosed then women survive for five years or more than that. American Cancer Society guesstimates that 25 percent of the ovarian cancer is diagnosed in primary stages. All this happen because of ovarian cancer symptoms are subtle and are identified after growing the cancer.
When the ovarian cancer symptoms are identified in patient then also numbers of tests are done for guarantee. Following tests are useful for diagnosing the ovarian cancer.
Ultrasound/sonogram: In this test ultrasound waves are used which are useful for creating the clear picture of ovaries. For examining the ovaries, transvaginal or abdominal ultrasounds are also used.
CT scan: Computed tomography or CAT scan uses the with the combination that is digital computer with the device of x-ray which then creates the brief image of the organs or parts of the body.
MRI scan: For creating cross sectional image, magnetic waves and radio waves are used.
Treatment of ovarian cancer:
The treatment is based on age and severity of the disease. Cancer treatment can affect on the cancer cells present in pelvis, in abdomen, or whole the body:
- Local therapy: Radiation therapy and surgery are the local therapies. The cancer in pelvis is removed using these therapies. Ovarian cancer spreads to the other parts of the body. This can be prevented by local therapies.
- Intraperitoneal chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can be directly given in the pelvis and abdomen using a thin tube. Drugs are useful for controlling cancer in pelvis and abdomen.
- Systemic chemotherapy: When the chemotherapy or drugs are taken through the mouth or injected into the veins then it is spreads in the blood and therefore controls the cancer in whole body.
- Surgery: The long cut is abdomen's wall is given by the surgeon and this procedure is known as laparotomy. The surgeon removes following things when ovarian cancer:
- Both ovaries and fallopian tubes (salpingo-oophorectomy)
- The omentum (the thin, fatty pad of tissue that covers the intestines)
- The uterus (hysterectomy)
- Samples of tissue from the pelvis and abdomen
- Nearby lymph nodes
- Chemotherapy: In chemotherapy, for killing the cancer cells, anticancer drugs are used. After the surgery, most of the women use the chemotherapy or some uses before the surgery. More than one drug is given in this therapy. Different ways are available for given the drugs:
- By vein (IV): The thin drug containing tube is inserted in to the vein.
- By vein and directly into the abdomen.
- By mouth: The drugs for the ovarian cancer are given through the mouth.
- Radiation therapy: High energy rays are used in this therapy for killing the cancer cells. The rays are directed towards the body using the large machine. At the time of initial treatment, this therapy is rarely used, but it is used for getting relief from pains which are occurred because of disease. Radiation therapy takes few minutes and done in any clinic or hospital.
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