Ovarian Cancer Signs and Symptoms

In humans and other mammals, reproduction takes place when an egg within the female’s body is fertilized by a sperm that has been produced by the male. The ovaries are a pair of organs located in the female body that produce eggs for fertilization. Normally, each ovary alternately releases one egg in every menstrual cycle. The process of egg release from the ovary is known as ovulation. This occurs somewhere in the middle of each menstrual cycle.

The female menstrual cycle is governed by the supply of various different hormones that control the functions that take place. Fertility is highest when the egg has just been released from the ovary and is making its way to the uterus via the fallopian tube.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death across the world. Cancer is an aggressive and progressive condition that gets worse and worse over time, making successful treatment less likely as time goes by. Cancer is characterized by the development of abnormal cells in the body. These abnormal cells multiply and begin to attack and kill healthy cells located in the same area of the body. Over time, this will affect the normal functioning of the organs or tissues in the affected area. Cancer cells often grow in clumps or masses known as tumors. The diagnosis of cancer is of particular importance because of the fact that early treatment is essential if the patient is to have a chance of survival. Cancers tend to differ in their characteristics based on which part of the body they are found in. The name of the cancer is also associated with the location where it is found.

Ovarian cancer, as the name suggests is cancer that affects the ovaries of the woman. As with all cancers, it is important to know the various ovarian cancer symptoms and signs so that appropriate measures can be taken when these ovarian cancer symptoms and signs are noticed. One issue with ovarian cancer symptoms and signs is the fact that they tend to be rather vague in their presentation. Women who suffer from ovarian cancer tend to display ovarian cancer signs such as a feeling of fullness, pain in the abdomen, indigestion and gas, pain during sexual intercourse and bleeding through the vagina that is unexplained. Often, the bleeding may be darker than normal in color and may be continuous. Because of the relatively vague nature of the ovarian cancer symptoms and signs, women should visit their doctors immediately in order to have a proper diagnosis done. It is not a bad thing if one visits a doctor if there is a doubt about ovarian cancer and bloating, even if bloating is the only symptom that has been felt at this stage. That being said, the ovarian cancer bloating symptom should last for a few days before it is considered to be related to cancer. Bloating may occur otherwise if the individual has some digestive issue or if she has consumed some food that has irritated the digestive system. Ovarian cancer diagnosis is essential in order to help prepare the course for treatment, if necessary.

It should be noted that in many cases, ovarian cysts are benign tumors and do not pose any significant health risk to the woman. However, as cancer can be fatal, no chance should be taken when it comes to the diagnosis of the condition. After detecting ovarian cancer signs, the doctor will perform some tests to confirm the diagnosis. The tests used for detecting ovarian cancer signs include a physical examination of the ovaries through a vaginal or rectal examination. Following this, imaging tests may also be conducted to detect the condition. Many cancers, including ovarian cancer, lead to a detectable abnormality in the blood of an individual. Blood testing is therefore used to diagnose such conditions. Furthermore, blood tests may also be used to check other parameters relating to the health of the individual.

Upon detecting ovarian cancer signs, the doctor will sign the patient up for treatment. All cancer treatments are difficult to go through as they will result in a number of different side effects. These side effects are often debilitating, leading to the hospitalization of the patient. As mentioned above, it is only early detection that can ensure that the cancer is caught and taken care of appropriately. Late stage cancer will be difficult to treat. One of the typical end stage ovarian cancer signs is the spread of the cancer to different parts of the body that are near the ovaries. This could affect organs within the abdominal area as well as organs associated with the ovaries such as the fallopian tubes and the uterus. The spread of cancer is a sign that the condition is advancing.

Regular health checkups can be used as a method to ensure that conditions like ovarian cancer are caught early.

Submitted on April 28, 2011