There are five subtle symptoms of deadly cancer that a doctor has warned you must not ignore. According to Dr Brooke Vandermolen, a London-based doctor, it can be extremely difficult to detect ovarian cancer since sufferers do not always have obvious symptoms, especially in the early stages of this life-threatening disease.
According to Cancer Research, more than 7,000 women were diagnosed with the condition annually between 2017 and 2019. Also, more than 4,000 deaths have been attributed to the disease in the same period, and just 35 per cent of those with the condition survive for ten or more years after diagnosis.
With all this in mind, Dr Vandermolen has shared five warning signs that could indicate you have the disease.
Abdominal pain
A chronic or persistent tummy pain could be an early warning sign of ovarian cancer. “Especially if it’s severe and it’s unusual for you, you should take it seriously,” she said. Dr Vandermolen says many times it can also be confused for digestive issues like IBS, and so, you may want to ignore it. “It can be confused for period pain or pains of IBS, which are obviously far more common, and [it’s] more likely that that’s why you’re having this discomfort, but if you don’t usually suffer from these or it’s a new type of pain for you, then don’t ignore it.”
Bloating
Prolonged bloating, especially when you eat something, can be one of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. The healthcare expert said that if your abdomen “feels a bit enlarged” or if your clothes are suddenly feeling tight, you must see a doctor.
Change in appetite
Dr Vandermolen said, “feeling full or difficulty finishing your meals.” She said this can mean “you suddenly notice that there’s a change in your appetite and you start eating and you feel full quickly, or your appetite is just not the same as it was before.”
Frequent urination
If “you need to pass urine more often”, this could also be a sign of ovarian cancer, the doctor shared. Dr Vandermolen said it usually happens due to a growing tumour, which may put pressure on your bladder.
Unexplained weight loss
Dr Vandermolen says unexplained weight loss can be one of the most noticeable signs of cancer. “Especially if it is rapid and is not related to any changes in your diet or your exercise.” She said it can be a sign of a “tumour or some fluid that’s accumulating in your abdomen”.
However, the doctor also makes it a point that just because you have these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have ovarian cancer, so it is important to get a thorough check-up done to rule out anything.
What is ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in your ovaries or fallopian tubes grow and multiply out of control. According to experts, the ovaries, a part of your reproductive system, make eggs during your reproductive years.
Even though this cancer accounts for 1 per cent of all new cancer cases across the world, there are more fatalities associated with the disease, and the lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer is approximately 1 in 78.
What causes ovarian cancer?
The exact cause of ovarian cancer is not yet known, but some women have a slightly higher risk of developing this condition. A few risk factors include:
- Being over the age of 60
- Obesity and being overweight
- A family history of ovarian cancer – others in your biological family have had the disease or have inherited a gene mutation (BRCA1 or BRCA2) or Lynch syndrome.
- Never being pregnant or having children later in life
- Endometriosis
There is also an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer as you grow older.