Symptoms of ovarian cancer
Due to the vague and non specific symptoms associated with the ovarian cancer, many women assume there are no symptoms for the disease. In reality there are many indications of the problems. But because of the position of the ovaries in the pelvis (deeply located), an ovarian cancer can grow undetected until it becomes quite large. Generally, the types of the symptoms a woman has are often associated with the location of the tumour and its impact on the surrounding organs. In most cases, the symptoms become apparent when ascites develops or when it invades adjacent structures.
Most of the symptoms of the ovarian cancer are often related to intra abdominal pressure (from the tumour size or ascites); these include abdominal distension, early satiety (‘fullness’ after eating), or a feeling of being bloated.
Similarly, pressure on the bladder or bowel can cause constipation or diarrhea, urinary frequency and pain.
Other symptoms include general malaise and fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, pelvic pain and dyspareunia (difficulty with intercourse).
In some cases, unexplained weight gain often occurs but in advanced disease a loss of weight can occur. Breathlessness can also be present in association with pleural effusion.
Again, less commonly, premenopausal women might experience irregular or heavy periods and postmenopausal women might have a vaginal bleeding.
One major problem associated with the symptoms of the ovarian cancer is, as the symptoms worsen (due to poor or lack of treatment), most women might have difficulty in eating and drinking due to pressure in the abdominal organ and reflux, and also some women might experience difficulty in sleeping and they tend to be more comfortable with sitting up.
Most of the symptoms of the ovarian cancer are often related to intra abdominal pressure (from the tumour size or ascites); these include abdominal distension, early satiety (‘fullness’ after eating), or a feeling of being bloated.
Similarly, pressure on the bladder or bowel can cause constipation or diarrhea, urinary frequency and pain.
Other symptoms include general malaise and fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, pelvic pain and dyspareunia (difficulty with intercourse).
In some cases, unexplained weight gain often occurs but in advanced disease a loss of weight can occur. Breathlessness can also be present in association with pleural effusion.
Again, less commonly, premenopausal women might experience irregular or heavy periods and postmenopausal women might have a vaginal bleeding.
One major problem associated with the symptoms of the ovarian cancer is, as the symptoms worsen (due to poor or lack of treatment), most women might have difficulty in eating and drinking due to pressure in the abdominal organ and reflux, and also some women might experience difficulty in sleeping and they tend to be more comfortable with sitting up.
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(Copyright © 2011 by U. Bala)
(Copyright © 2011 by U. Bala)