About 3 percent of all cancers in women are caused by ovarian cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. This cancer more commonly occurs in women over 60. The five-year survival rate for this disease is about 46 percent, but if ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated before the cancer spreads beyond the ovary, the survival rate is around 93 percent. Less than 20 percent of ovarian cancers are found at this stage; usually the patient does not notice any symptoms until later in the disease course.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the lower abdomen, may be a symptom of ovarian cancer, according to Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. This symptom is non-specific and can be a sign of many different conditions, but if abdominal pain is constant and continues to get worse, patients should seek evaluation.
Bloating
Women with ovarian cancer also complain of a sense of abdominal bloating, according to the American Cancer Society. A woman can feel like she has gas or as though her abdomen is full or swollen.
Loss of Appetite
Another symptom of ovarian cancer is a loss of appetite, according to the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. This occurs because the stomach is being crowded by the enlarging ovarian tumor.
Urinary Symptoms
The increasing size of the ovarian tumor can cause urinary symptoms as well, according to MayoClinic.com. A late-stage symptom of ovarian cancer is urinary frequency or urgency. This symptom may be indicative of other medical conditions as well. If it is present every day and in combination with other symptoms, it may be suggestive of a serious situation such as ovarian cancer.
Ascites
A woman with late-stage ovarian cancer may develop fluid in the abdomen, a condition called ascites. This excess fluid is produced by the cancer cells and may need to be drained to make the woman more comfortable.
References
- Johns Hopkins Pathology: Ovarian Cancer-Signs and Symptoms
- Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania: Ovarian Cancer: The Basics
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Ovarian Cancer
- National Cancer Institute: Ovarian Epithelial Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
- American Cancer Society: Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
