The Five Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
Posted on Sep 5, 2013
By St. Luke's, Duluth MN
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
According to
Basem Goueli, MD, PhD, director of
St. Luke’s Regional Cancer Center, "Symptoms suggestive of ovarian cancer include bloating, pelvic
or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary
symptoms, such as urgency and frequency." If you are newly experiencing
these symptoms, and they are persistent (e.g., evident more than 12 days
in a month), you are strongly encouraged to see your doctor.
Early detection is key
Listening to your body is important. If you are experiencing any of these
symptoms, the sooner you can get diagnosed and treated, the better the
outcome. Dr. Goueli states, “If there is a golden rule in cancer
care, it's that early detection generally translates into improved
patient outcomes, regardless of the tumor type. In ovarian cancer, patients
with stage I disease have a significantly better prognosis than patients
with more advanced disease."
Genetic testing
Along with the symptoms, there are hereditary factors that can strongly
predispose patients to developing ovarian cancer. Mutations in the tumor
suppressor genes, BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, and patients with Lynch syndrome
(hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer) are at substantially increased
risk of developing ovarian cancer. In addition, patients with a strong
family history of ovarian cancer are increasingly predisposed to getting
ovarian cancer. These women, which constitute approximately 5 percent
of all patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer, should talk to their doctor
about their risk of ovarian cancer, and be managed accordingly. Notable
celebrities with BRCA mutations include Christina Applegate and Angelina
Jolie. The National Cancer Institute has an informative
fact sheet that talks about BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations,
and the impact mutations in these genes have on a patient's cancer
risk. Dr Goueli states, “We consider numerous factors in determining
when to test patients for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. A good rule of thumb
for patients is that they should speak to their doctor if they have a
personal or family history of breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer."
Resources to learn more about ovarian cancer
An excellent resource in Minnesota is the
Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA). MOCA has information about symptoms, coping with a diagnosis,
living with ovarian cancer, and support groups and resources for patients,
family and friends. MOCA also supports ovarian cancer research. Dr. Goueli
also recommends the
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The site is free and requires setting up a user name and a password.
“You can see the expert guidelines for the treatment of ovarian cancer
on this site. This is the same site oncologists use and your oncologist
can help you interpret the information.” Use these resources and
let other women know about them too, so they can become better aware of
the five symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Categories:
Cancer Care,Obstetrics & Gynecology