4 SYMPTOMS THAT MAY BE SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER:
-
PERSISTENT BLOATING
If you notice you are getting bloated consistently and often (frequently happening for more than three weeks), where you weren’t before, this could be a sign of cancerous tumors growing.
- Lower Abdominal and Pelvic Pain
Think of all of the areas you may feel menstrual cramps – your lower stomach, pelvic region, perhaps even in your lower back. While pain during menstruation is normal, persistent pain that sticks around long after your period is gone (again, three weeks or more) could be a sign of ovarian cancer. This one is especially important for pre-menopausal women to watch out for because it is so easily passed off for period pain. -
DIFFICULTY EATING/FEELING FULL QUICKLY
If you notice a significant decrease in your appetite for a span longer than three weeks, talk to your doctor. While this could be a sign of a whole host of stomach, intestine, and bowel issues, it also may signify cancer.
-
INCREASED NEED TO URINATE
If you find yourself visiting the ladies room at a much higher frequency, despite making no changes to liquid intake, or you are fine one minute and urgently need to pee the next, you may have early stages of ovarian cancer.
All of these symptoms can easily, and often are, mistaken for issues and diseases with the Gastrointestinal tract. If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms when you weren’t before, it is important to monitor their frequency and persistence. If they don’t go away after three weeks or more, make an appointment with your doctor to talk about getting checked for Ovarian Cancer.
As women, it is up to us to monitor our own health, as well inform the women in our lives so that they, too, recognize the symptoms of this potentially fatal disease. Help us fight ovarian cancer by sharing this article with your friends and family!
For more information on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ovarian cancer, visit http://www.ovariancanada.org & theheartysoul