Health and Wellness

Ovarian Cancer: Learn How to Catch It Early

Ovarian cancer only accounts for about 3 percent of all cancers in women. But it is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women. Ovarian cancer is often not detected until later stages, when treatment is much less effective.

This cancer is hard to detect because there is no recommended regular screening test. And the early symptoms are mild and similar to other, less serious health problems.

Knowing the early warning signs of ovarian cancer may result in a positive outcome from treatment. In fact, if the cancer is caught early and treated in stage one, more than 90 percent of women are either cured or live longer than five years.*

But the symptoms are subtle, and the tumors grow and spread fast. Most women have the signs for only three to nine months before the disease becomes advanced.

It is important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. Talk to your doctor if you experience any symptoms that are not normal for you. Symptoms in the early stages include:

• Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge
• Cramping or other pain in your lower belly (below your stomach and between your hip bones)
• Back pain
• Bloating in your lower belly
• Feeling full quickly when eating
• Changes in your bathroom habits, such as having to urinate very badly or very often, constipation or diarrhea

The risk for ovarian cancer is higher for women who are middle aged or older. But doctors encourage women of all ages to pay attention to even mild discomfort in the area below the bellybutton.

One clue that it may be cancer is when symptoms do not come and go — they continue and get worse over time. If they last more than two weeks, go to your doctor.

Be aware that many women who report early symptoms do not receive the tests needed for fast diagnosis. Doctors may mistake the early signs for other disorders, such as colitis or irritable bowel syndrome. If you think you may have symptoms, be sure to ask your doctor what can be done to rule out ovarian cancer.

Women with family members who have had ovarian cancer are at higher risk. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to protect yourself from ovarian cancer.

Sources: *American Cancer Society, 2013; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013