Bloating is a common sign of ovarian cancer.
But also loss of appetite, increased urge to urinate and back pain are signs you should watch out for.
In the UK, around 11 women die from the disease every day – or 4,000 a year. Figures show it kills three times that many people in the US each year.
dr Sharon Tate, primary care development manager at charity Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “Without an effective screening tool, knowing the symptoms of this disease can give us a head start in diagnosing ovarian cancer at the earliest possible stage.
Bloating is a common sign of ovarian cancer. But also loss of appetite, increased urge to urinate and back pain are signs you should watch out for
“Currently, two-thirds of cases are diagnosed late and one in seven women dies within two months of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
“When the diagnosis is made at the earliest stage, the cancer is all the easier to treat.”
Here, MailOnline reveals the bizarre warning signs for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this March.
Bloated stomach
It’s usually a telltale sign that you’re constipated — or a side effect of gulping down fizzy drinks.
But persistent bloating is also a symptom of ovarian cancer that shouldn’t be ignored, experts say.
According to the charity Target Ovarian Cancer, only one in five women knows that bloating is a sign of ovarian cancer.
Some women develop visible masses that are similar in size to a soccer ball, which can be mistaken for a pregnancy bump.
Ovarian Cancer Action explains that bloating can also be a result of ascites, which is the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
Cancer Research UK explains: “When cancer cells spread to the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) they can irritate it and cause fluid to build up. Also, cancer can block part of the lymphatic system, preventing fluid from draining from the abdomen as usual.”
Bloating and feeling full easily are both signs of ovarian cancer. According to the charity Ovarian Cancer Action, some women develop visible masses that are similar in size to a soccer ball and can be mistaken for a pregnancy bump
Fast feeling of satiety
Loss of appetite — or feeling full after eating — could be another sign of ovarian cancer.
Like bloating, this early satiety can be caused by a tumor or ascites.
This can prevent you from feeling hungry because the liquid is pressing against other organs in your stomach.
The Gynae Centre, a private clinic in London, says that if it affects the gastrointestinal tract, it “can make you feel nauseous, unwell or feel like you’re already full”.
back pain
Back pain is a common symptom of ovarian cancer, but it’s usually just dismissed as something else.
The tumor can cause persistent pain in the abdomen, hips, and pelvis.
Although it sounds unrelated to ovarian cancer, if the tumor spreads to the abdomen or pelvis, it can irritate tissues in the lower back, experts say.
If the pain is persistent, new to you and cannot be readily attributed to other factors, you should seek advice from your GP.
The NHS says that while it’s a symptom that can be caused by many different conditions, it’s still important to have it checked out by a GP because if it’s cancer, early detection means that it is more treatable.
Need to pee more
Going to the toilet more often can be a sign of infection. But it’s also possibly a symptom of ovarian cancer.
However, this cancer sign is not widely known. According to Target Ovarian Cancer, only 1 in 100 women knows about it.
according to dr Tate’s urge to urinate could be caused by a tumor or ascites.
When a tumor grows in the pelvic area, in this case on the ovaries, it can press against the bladder – leading to more frequent trips to the toilet.
Internal pressure can also block your ureters, which are the tubes that connect the kidney to the bladder, according to Cancer Research. When this happens, urine cannot drain, which can cause the kidney to swell.
If you need to pee urgently or more frequently, the NHS says you should see your GP.
When a tumor grows in the pelvic area, in this case on the ovaries, it can press against the bladder, leading to more frequent trips to the toilet. If you notice only a small amount of urine coming out when you pee, it could be a sign that something is pressing into the bladder, experts say
Unusual bleeding from the vagina
Bleeding between periods or even after menopause can be a sign of ovarian cancer.
In most women, abnormal bleeding is a sign of a hormone imbalance, but experts advise getting it checked out.
Heavy and irregular bleeding, especially between periods, are warning signs of a tumor.
dr Tate said: “Any unusual bleeding from the vagina before or after menopause should always be evaluated by a general practitioner.
“If you have these symptoms, contact your GP. It can’t be anything, but it’s best to be safe.
“For more ovarian cancer information and support, visit the Target Ovarian Cancer website.”
This is because a tumor on your ovary can disrupt your menstrual cycle and hormones.
According to the American Cancer Society, many tumors produce the female hormone estrogen, which can cause vaginal bleeding even if you’re already through mesopause.
WHY OVARIAN CANCER IS CALLED THE ‘SILENT KILLER’
About 80 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease.
By the time it is diagnosed, 60 percent of ovarian cancers have already spread to other parts of the body, reducing the five-year survival rate to 30 percent from 90 percent in the earliest stages.
according to dr Ronny Drapkin, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania who has studied the disease for more than two decades, it is diagnosed so late because it is in the pelvis.
“The pelvis is like a bowl, so a tumor there can get quite large before it’s actually noticeable,” said Dr. Drapkin told the Daily Mail Online.
The first symptoms to appear in ovarian cancer are gastrointestinal because tumors can begin to push upwards.
When a patient complains of gastrointestinal symptoms, doctors focus on dietary changes and other causes rather than ovarian cancer screening.
dr Drapkin said that screening to reveal the cancer usually only occurs after a patient has persistent gastrointestinal symptoms.
“Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer because it doesn’t have early symptoms, when in fact it does have symptoms, they’re just very general and could be caused by other things,” he said.
“One of the things I tell women is that nobody knows your body like you do. If you feel like something is wrong, something is probably wrong.”
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