Ovarian cancer will cause an estimated 13,850 deaths and lead to 21,880 new cancer cases in the United States in 2010, reports the National Cancer Institute. Epithelial ovarian cancer, the most common form of ovarian cancer, develops from the flattened cells that line and surround the ovaries. Patients many not notice many unusual signs in the early stages of ovarian cancer, but as the disease progresses, the cancer promotes the development of a number of symptoms.
Elevated CA-125 Levels
A potential early symptom of epithelial ovarian cancer is an elevated level of CA-125 in the blood. CA-125, which stands for cancer antigen 125, is a protein produced and secreted by ovarian cancer cells. During cancer development, there is a marked increase in the number of cells secreting CA-125 into the bloodstream, so overall CA-125 levels increase. OncoLink, a cancer resource published by the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania notes that elevated CA-125 levels at one time can indicate a number of conditions, while steadily increasing CA-125 levels may indicate the presence of ovarian cancer. Women with a family history of ovarian cancer may therefore wish to undergo regular CA-125 blood testing to aid in the early detection of ovarian cancer.
Lower Back and Pelvic Pain
A common symptom of epithelial ovarian cancer is pain in the pelvis and lower back. As ovarian cancer progresses, cancer cells begin to migrate away from the ovary, invading other tissues within the pelvis. The cells actively destroy tissues in and around the ovaries, causing the death of healthy tissue to facilitate larger tumor growth. This tissue damage can lead to chronic or persistent pain. Tumor growth in and around the ovaries also places pressure on surrounding nerves, further contributing to pelvic and lower back pain. Women experiencing unexplained and persistent pain should seek medical attention to address the possibility of an underlying condition such as ovarian cancer.
Urinary Symptoms
Another potential sign of epithelial ovarian cancer is the development of abnormal urinary symptoms, such as a need for frequent urination, a feeling that the bladder is always full or dribbling during urination. Since the ovaries are located near the urethra and urinary bladder, ovarian cancer cells often migrate and grow towards these tissues, causing difficulties with urination. The tumor may place pressure on the bladder, causing a frequent need for urination, or may grow into the urethra and cause difficulty passing urine. OncoLink recommends that women experiencing symptoms such as urinary problems for a period of a few weeks should consult a physician to examine the source of the problem and investigate the possibility of epithelial ovarian cancer.
