Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms associated with ovarian cancer are often vague, non-specific and can be mistakenly attributed to other causes. These symptoms can often be experienced by women without ovarian cancer.
Signs of ovarian cancer may include:
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Fatigue
- Urinary symptoms
- Changes in bowel habits
- Difficulty eating
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- Menstrual irregularities
Just because you have the symptoms does not mean you have ovarian cancer.
However, if the symptoms are:
- New – they are not normal for you and may have started in the last year
- Persistent – they have been present for more than 3 weeks
- Frequent – you notice the symptoms happen frequently
…then it is important that you see your doctor.
Research indicates that the symptoms of ovarian cancer may not occur until late stages of the cancer or that listening to them may not improve a woman’s ovarian cancer. Since there is no screening for ovarian cancer, Ovarian Cancer Canada believes that women should pay attention to their symptoms.
If a woman is aware of symptoms and communicates these to her health care provider, it may help her to get diagnosed and treated earlier.