Ovarian cancer can be tricky to diagnose at an early stage. There is no real screening test for early detection and symptoms are typically vague and easily mistaken for ordinary gastrointestinal issues such as constipation or bloating.
But that doesn’t mean women are powerless. Getting to know the ovarian cancer warning signs and risk factors is your best defense against the disease.
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Pelvic exams are important for a woman’s health, but unfortunately, most early ovarian tumors are difficult to feel. Health-care providers use screenings like Pap and HPV (human papillomavirus) tests to find cervical cancer, but not ovarian cancer. Many times, ovarian cancer is diagnosed when a woman gets an ultrasound or CT scan for other issues. All of this means diagnosis often comes late, when the cancer has advanced and possibly spread to other parts of the body.
While many warning signs can be caused by non-cancerous conditions, if you are experiencing any of these common symptoms of ovarian cancer and they occur often or more severely than normal, talk to your family doctor or OB/GYNs.
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Abdominal bloating
- Difficulty eating/loss of hunger
- Feeling full after eating only small amounts of food (early satiety)
- Urinary urgency or frequency
You also might experience:
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach
- Back pain
- Painful sex
- Constipation
- Period changes such as heavier bleeding or irregularity
- Abdominal swelling with weight loss
Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer
While ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, according to the American Cancer Society a woman’s overall lifetime risk of developing it is still relatively low. Slightly more than 1% of women in the U.S. with no significant family history or additional risk factors will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer most often occurs in women after menopause, with the possibility increasing with age. Half of all ovarian cancers are in women aged 63 or older and the disease affects white women more frequently than Black women.
Other factors that may increase your risk include:
- Obesity or being overweight
- Having your first child after age 35 or never carrying pregnancy to term
- Using hormone replacement therapy after menopause
- Family history of ovarian, breast, endometrial, or colorectal cancer
- Inherited gene mutations that have been linked to cancers, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, Lynch syndrome and others
- Personal history of breast cancer
Smoking may increase cancer risk for some types of cancers. Additionally, increased risk may be associated with the use of:
- Fertility treatment with in vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Hormone replacement therapy
Factors That Can Lower the Risk of Ovarian Cancer
Women with a lower risk for ovarian cancer include those who:
- Give birth before age 26 (risk reduces further with each subsequent full-term pregnancy)
- Breastfeed
- Take oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
- Use a short-term IUD (intrauterine device)
- Undergo pelvic surgeries such as tubal ligation (tying the fallopian tubes) or hysterectomy (removal of uterus) or removal of ovaries
Genetic Testing
As mentioned, ovarian cancer can be hereditary. Women with a family history of cancer or inherited syndromes should ask about genetic counseling or testing.
Genetic testing is also important after an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Your treatment will likely include removing your tumor(s) and possibly chemotherapy, depending on the staging—how much cancer is in your body and where it is located. You can help yourself and others by asking to be screened for genetic mutations, including BRCA1 (breast cancer gene 1) or BRCA2, which are linked to ovarian cancer and can run in families.
Be Proactive
Besides having an annual pelvic exam and knowing the risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer, trust your gut. You know your body. If something feels wrong, seek care.
Diagnosing ovarian cancer can be challenging. However, by staying in tune with your body, sharing your knowledge with friends and family, and talking to your health-care provider if anything seems out of the ordinary, you can make an impact in the fight against ovarian cancer.