Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a malignant ovarian neoplasm (an abnormal growth located on the ovaries).

Symptoms

• sense of pelvic heaviness
• vaginal bleeding
• weight gain or weight loss
• abnormal menstrual cycles
• unexplained back pain that worsens over time
• increased abdominal girth
• non specific gastrointestinal symptoms:
• vague lower abdominal discomfort
• increased gas
• indigestion
• lack of appetite
• nausea and vomiting
• inability to ingest usual volumes of food
• bloating
• Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
• increased urinary frequency/urgency
• excessive hair growth

Note: There may be no symptoms until late in the disease.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In particular, women should watch for symptoms occuring in groups and lasting two weeks or more.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Women experiencing these symptoms should insist on having a blood test called CA-125 done. While this test is far from perfect, and is generally not regarded as useful for large scale screening by the medical community, a high value will immediately signal the need for further testing. Normal values range from 0 to 35. Values can be temporarily elevated due to a number of non-cancerous causes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Further screening may involve CT scans, trans-vaginal ultrasounds, or retesting of the CA-125 value at a later date (to see if the value is normalising, or increasing).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Physical examination may reveal increased abdominal girth and /or ascites (fluid within the abdominal cavity). Pelvic examination may reveal an ovarian or abdominal mass. The pelvic exam should include a rectovaginal component for better palpation of the ovaries.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~