8 Signs That Could Indicate Early Stage Ovarian Cancer
Many people tend to think of cancer as a death sentence.
Ovarian cancer is a silent killer with no visible symptoms in the early stages,
but that doesn’t mean it’s not curable. The important thing is to catch it
early before it spreads. When the symptoms do begin to show, they can be vague
and easily confused with a number of other conditions. Oncology is a
well-developed medical field and many cancers are curable with the right
treatment at the right time. The healthy thing to do is to keep a balance
between denial and hypochondria.
The good news is that there are a number of early warnings
signs. Ovarian cancer symptoms only match actual early stage ovarian cancer 1%
of the time. While there is no absolutely reliable detection method for early
stage ovarian cancer, doctors make use of pelvic examinations, ultrasound scans
and blood tests for genetic cancer markers to diagnose the illness. While
scientists are busy working at fixing this gap in the medical field, it’s
important for you to know and listen to your body. This guide will help you
discover the risk factors and early warning signs.
Risk Factors
While the cause of ovarian cancer is unknown, certain
factors can increase your chances of it developing.
Age: Ovarian cancer tends to strike women over the age of 60
most, with over 50% of all occurrences affecting this age group. Women over the
age of 50 are also at a higher risk, although age does not safeguard younger
aged women from developing this cancer too, and cases are sometimes found in
women in their 20s.
Family history: Genetics can increase the likelihood of a
person developing ovarian cancer. A family history of ovarian cancer, breast
cancer, or colon cancer strengthens your susceptibility to the illness. The genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, known as the breast
cancer genes, were initially only linked to detecting breast cancer chances,
but further research revealed that these genes also indicate ovarian cancer.
Period history: The number of periods an individual has
during her lifetime has been shown to correlate with increased chances of the
development of ovarian cancer. Women who
began menstruating young, have never given birth, or reached menopause at a
later age (after the age of 50) have been found to have a higher risk of
getting ovarian cancer than those who experienced less periods of menstruation.
Certain medications: Research has found that having hormone
replacement therapy after menopause, or enduring large doses of hormones for
fertility treatment, can strengthen the chances of ovarian cancer developing.
Other risk factors that make ovarian cancer more likely
include smoking, obesity, use of an IUD (intrauterine device) or polycystic
ovary syndrome.
8 Early Warning Signs
One or several of these symptoms offer enough reason for
rightful concern. If they persist for longer than two weeks, consult with your
physician.
1. Constipation. This can also include other changes in your
bowel movements.
2. Pelvic pain. This can range from a feeling of discomfort
in the pelvic area, to outright pain. It can also be felt in the abdomen.
3. Frequent, urgent urination. In older women, this can be a
sign of weak pelvic floor muscles or a urinary tract infection, but this
symptom can also be a sign of ovarian cancer.
4. Swollen or bloated abdomen. Your stomach increases in
size, and you might feel particularly bloated along with being full of gas.
This one is easily detectable when your clothes begin to feel tighter around
your waist and hips, without weight gain elsewhere.
5. Fatigue. You’ll have slept enough but still feel overly
tired and low in energy.
6. Pain from sexual activity.
7. Low back pain. This one is especially relevant if it
starts in the pelvic area.
8. Loss of appetite, feeling full quickly. You might also
observe unexplained weight loss
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