The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 19,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023 alone. But you may not be familiar with the condition.
While most people know about the most common types of cancer,like breast cancer, skin cancer, and colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer tends to fly under the radar. In part, that’s because the condition is less common—but it’s also because there’s no standard screening test for the disease.
Think about it: You probably know more about the types of cancer identified above because there are preventive screenings recommended to detect those cancers. There’s no such test for ovarian cancer.
What else should you know about this type of gynecological cancer? Keep reading for the facts.
Ovarian Cancer Basics
Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that originates in cells in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or peritoneum, which is the tissue lining covering the abdominal organs.
One in 78 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer at some point in their lifetime, compared to one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
But like breast cancer, ovarian cancer is much more treatable in its earliest stages. When ovarian cancer is detected in a localized stage, meaning it has not spread outside the ovaries, the five-year survival rate ranges from 93 to 97 percent, depending on the specific type of cancer.
Unfortunately, it’s much less common for ovarian cancer to be detected in an early stage. Up to four out of five cases of this type of cancer are detected after the cancer has spread.
Cancer in Hiding
Women are taught from an early age to talk with a medical provider if they find a lump in their breast. That makes sense, because a breast lump is often a sign of breast cancer, though it can sometimes have a less serious cause.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are trickier to identify. Most of the symptoms overlap with the symptoms of other conditions or even, simply eating the wrong thing.
That’s why the symptoms of ovarian cancer are often called silent—they can lurk without causing suspicion that something is seriously wrong.
These silent symptoms can include:
- Abdominal or back pain
- Bloating
- Changes in bathroom habits, like needing to urinate more frequently or being constipated
- Feelings of fullness without eating much
- Pain during intercourse
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause or discharge that’s abnormal for you
Because ovarian cancer is most treatable early, it’s important to pay close attention to your health. Don’t disregard the symptoms above, particularly when experienced for longer than a few days.
If you experience these symptoms or anything else that doesn’t seem normal for your body, check in with your primary care provider or a women’s health specialist, like an OB/GYN.
Pay Close Attention to Bloating
We get it—bloating is one of those things that you usually just want to ignore and hope it will go away. Nearly everyone experiences this uncomfortable sensation of fullness and abdominal stiffness at some point, which is caused by a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
Bloating is entirely normal in most cases. It can occur due to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, or simply be the result of what you ate for dinner.
Bloating that lingers, though, is a cause for concern. More than 70 percent of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer report that they experienced significant bloating that wouldn’t go away, making it the most common symptom of the disease.
Understanding Your Risk for Ovarian Cancer
Anyone who has ovaries is at risk of developing ovarian cancer, but certain groups of people are at a higher risk. Risk factors include:
- Being middle-aged or older
- Being of an Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish background
- Having a genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Having close family members (mom, sister, aunt, grandmother) who have had ovarian cancer
- Having endometriosis
- Having had breast, uterine, or colorectal cancer
- Having never given birth
While there’s no standardized screening for ovarian cancer, it’s important to talk with your medical providers if you have any risk factors for the disease. Knowing the facts about your risk factors can help your care team make the best decisions about your health.
The Bottom Line About Ovarian Cancer
A screening for ovarian cancer isn’t something you can add to your yearly to-do list. Because there’s no reliable screening test for the disease, diagnosis is often dependent on a woman reporting suspicious symptoms to her medical provider.
To protect your health, keep a careful eye on what’s normal for your body. When you experience abdominal, digestive, or pelvic symptoms that linger for longer than a day or two, it’s a good plan to check in with your OB/GYN or another medical provider.
While your symptoms may be related to something entirely innocuous, it’s always better to stay on the safe side and have them checked out.
It’s also important to have regular checkups with a women’s health specialist, who can offer suggestions for protecting your overall health and lowering your risk of ovarian cancer.
When you’re diagnosed with a gynecological cancer like ovarian cancer, you want the peace of mind of knowing you’ll have the care of a team of experts. You’ll find that with the gynecologic oncologists at Kirkland Cancer Center.
