In light of September being Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I found this quote about the "silent killer" illuminating. Dr. William Hamilton, a lead researcher on a recent survey of symptoms of the disease, said, "Ovarian cancer is not silent, it's noisy. It's just we're not very good at deciphering the noise."
As researchers reviewed medical records of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, they found these seven common symptoms.
- Abdominal distension
- Urinary frequency
- Abdominal pain
- Postmenopausal bleeding
- Loss of appetite
- Rectal bleeding
- Abdominal bloating
You might find it redundant that the list contains both abdominal distension and bloating, but medically speaking they are different symptoms. Bloating comes and goes, but distension is "a progressive increase in abdominal size." In the US, bloating is the most persistent symptom, and unfortunately a sign of many other, simpler health problems. Making both patients and gynecologists aware of the symptoms is the next step in the fight against ovarian cancer, where early detection is key.
UGG
I would like to add one: pain during intercourse. I had a football sized ovarian cyst and the first symptom I had, months before any other symptoms, was pain during intercourse.
1God, I hope this mean nothing. I am afraid
2Amazingly I've had all of these symptoms and received an all-clear from my ultrasound. Completely normal ovaries.
However, I am now under investigation for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. So whilst it may not be cancer, it could very easily be PCOS.
Always see your doctor.
3Also : don't forget that abdominal bloating and these symptoms happen during your period and really at any time of the month !
Don't panic just because a list of symptoms goes up - just see your doctor.
4My main sign of PCOS (I have it) was lower abdomen pain...Plus my ovaries were 'torquing' because of the cysts--turning themselves around, swelling with fluid, then releasing. Extremely painful. But now I have worse issues I'm going to get checked for. One being Ovarian Cancer (lets hope not..i'm only 19!). But one other sign I'm told to watch for in Ovarian Cancer is excessive and unexplained weight loss, which is my problem. Goodluck with the PCOS diagnosis. It's a pain, and is extremely painful, but it's nice to know what's wrong. And they have ways to make the symptoms not so bad..just not a cure yet (unfortunately)...
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