June 05, 2020 - According to cureovariancancer.org, ovarian cancer is the 5th most common cause of cancer deaths among women. Although 8 in 10 women experience symptoms when their ovarian cancer is in the early stages, a full 80 percent will be misdiagnosed, and one in four will wait more than six months to finally receive a correct diagnosis. Nine out of ten women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer have no family history of the disease.
Factors that have been shown to mildly alter the risk of a woman being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is giving birth, maintaining a healthy weight, and using oral contraceptives. Overall, ovarian cancer is more common among older women, but there are certain types of ovarian cancer that are more common in younger women. Having endometriosis also seems to be a risk factor among women who develop ovarian cancer.
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer - Because the symptoms of ovarian cancer are somewhat vague and can be related to a number of other illnesses or diseases, many women do not receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer until the disease has significantly progressed. The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
- An increase in belly size
- A feeling of being bloated
- Pelvic pain
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Needing to urinate more often or a feeling of urgency
- Changes in bowel habits
- Chronic fatigue
If you experience any of the symptoms below, which are frequent, worsening, unusual, or last longer than two weeks, they could indicate ovarian cancer:
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling full after eating only a few bites
- Constant urge to have a bowel movement
- Chronic diarrhea
- Painful or burning bowel movements
- Distension of abdomen
- Clothing around the waist are suddenly too tight
- Feeling an abdominal mass
- Weight loss without dieting
- Pressure on the bladder, increased urinary frequency, leaking urine
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Chronic nausea, vomiting, indigestion, gas, or heartburn
- Vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Deep pain during sexual intercourse
- Chronic pain in the lower back, abdomen, or the pelvic region
To make it easier to remember the symptoms of ovarian cancer, you can use the acronym, BEAT.
B is for bloating that does not come and go
E is for eating difficulties or feeling full after only a few bites
A is for abdominal and pelvic pain that is chronic rather than intermittent
T is for toilet changes (urination or bowel changes that last more than a few days)
Ovarian cancer symptoms are often diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, gastritis, stress, depression, or urinary tract infections.
Should You Be Tested for Ovarian Cancer? There are no current screening tests for ovarian cancer, however, if you experience symptoms of ovarian cancer you can have a blood test known as a CA-125 test, as well as a transvaginal ultrasound. If both these tests are negative, your doctor may want to repeat the CA-125 test from one to three months later. CA125 levels over 35 suggest further tests are necessary to identify the reason for the high levels.
Ultrasound scans and CT scans are painless tests that can help in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Cervical smears do not test for ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is an umbrella term for different cancers with similar symptoms and includes epithelial types of ovarian cancer as well as fallopian tube cancer, mucinous ovarian cancer, endometrioid ovarian cancer, clear cell ovarian cancer, borderline ovarian cancer, and more.
Should You Speak to a Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawyer? If you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and you believe your diagnosis could be related to the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes, it could be beneficial to speak to a baby powder ovarian cancer attorney. This attorney will evaluate the facts and help you determine whether you should file a baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson.