Ovaries are the reproductive organs in females; which produce ova or eggs, including female hormones: estrogen and progesterone. They are located one on either side of the uterus and is about the size of an almond. Ovarian cancer has warning signs, but is vague and is often unnoticeable during the early stages. The Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer begin to show through only after spreading within the pelvis and the abdomen. This makes ovarian cancer a difficult one to treat.

Abnormal cells in the ovaries begin to multiply without control and form tumors that can spread to other parts of the body. This condition is called metastatic ovarian cancer. The symptoms often develop during the advanced stages when the growth puts increasing pressure on the uterus, bladder, and rectum.

Ovarian cancer is commonly known as a silent killer, as, even in the advanced stages, the symptoms can be pretty unclear.

Types of ovarian cancer
Before knowing the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, it’s important to know its types.

Epithelial tumors
These tumors develop in the thin layer of the tissues covering the ovaries and accounts for over 90% of the ovarian cancer cancer.

Stromal tumors
It develops in the hormone-producing cells in the ovarian tissues. This cancer is often diagnosed at an early stage.

Germ cell tumors
This cancer develops in the egg-producing cells and is pretty rare to develop.

Warning signs of ovarian cancer
There are several symptoms of ovarian cancer that can develop right from the initial stages to more advanced stages of the disease.

• Bloating and pressure on the abdomen
• Pelvic and abdominal pain, including cramping
• Lack of appetite
• Feeling full quickly just when you start to eat
• An increase in urination
• Feeling the need to pass urine more frequently
• An abnormal urgency to urinate
• Significant changes in bowel habits like constipation or diarrhea that doesn’t improve
• Fatigue and unexplained exhaustion
• Lower back pain
• An increase in abdominal girth accompanied by abdominal swelling
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Indigestion or upset stomach
• Changes in your menstrual cycle
• Unexplained weight loss

Speaking of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, they can also include unexplained symptoms that are not related to other diagnosed conditions. It can also be ovarian cancer when conditions like back pain or indigestion don’t respond to treatments and diet changes with exercising, respectively. It can also signify ovarian cancer when the conditions last for over two weeks or occur for over twelve days in a month.

A rare symptom of ovarian cancer includes an inflammatory disease that causes skin rashes, inflamed muscles, and overall muscle weakness.

The final word
Several symptoms like these occur for other reasons that are not necessarily due to ovarian cancer. Most of these symptoms are pretty common and are treatable with simple medications. However, cancers, and especially ovarian cancers, are curable when detected early. Visit your doctor and discuss the symptoms you are experiencing for over a few days to ensure it’s not ovarian cancer. Remember, symptoms will persist and become worse if it’s ovarian cancer since the tumor grows over time.