The following are symptoms of ovarian cancer. It is important to note that these symptoms can also often be experienced by people who do not have ovarian cancer.
What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
Common Signs & Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer Include:
Occasionally, there can be other symptoms of ovarian cancer, such as:
Often ovarian cancer symptoms are mistaken for other ailments and causes, as they can be subtle and experienced by women who do not have ovarian cancer. They can be confused with symptoms of other less severe illnesses, especially gastrointestinal complaints (ex IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome), leading to frequent misdiagnosis. Most patients are only identified in the advanced stages of the disease when it becomes more difficult to treat.
However, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Every Woman Study™, which is based on the findings of a survey of over 1,500 women living with ovarian cancer worldwide, found that nine in 10 women experienced multiple symptoms prior to diagnosis irrespective of the stage of diagnosis or type of ovarian cancer. Alarmingly, our Study also found that over two-thirds of women had not heard of ovarian cancer, or knew anything about it, prior to their diagnosis. Raising awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms with women – and clinicians – is essential if we are to reduce delays in diagnosis. It is especially important as there is no routine, simple screening test to detect ovarian cancer.
