Ovarian cancer symptoms
This page tells you about the symptoms of ovarian cancer . There is information about
Ovarian cancer symptoms
The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be very vague, particularly when the disease is in its early stages.
Symptoms of very early ovarian cancer
Many women with very early cancer of the ovary don't report any symptoms at all. Early symptoms can include pain in the lower abdomen or side, and/or a bloated, full feeling in the abdomen.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer that has grown outside the ovary
Once the cancer has grown out of the ovary, it can cause symptoms from the tumour growing anywhere in the area between the hip bones (the pelvis). This can cause lower tummy (abdominal) pain, back pain, passing urine more often than usual, constipation, pain during sex, or a swollen abdomen. Women may also have irregular periods or bleeding after the menopause.
Symptoms of advanced ovarian cancer
Advanced ovarian cancer can cause even more symptoms because the cancer has spread into the abdomen or elsewhere in the body. These can include sickness, constipation, tiredness, shortness of breath, or a noticeable swelling of the abdomen. You may have a loss of appetite, feeling full after eating or a general feeling of fullness in the abdomen.
If you do have any of these symptoms, particularly if they don't go away, go to your doctor and get a check up. Remember, other diseases apart from ovarian cancer can cause these symptoms. Most women with symptoms like these will not have cancer.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the About ovarian cancer section.
The list of symptoms that ovarian cancer can cause are not necessarily easy to spot. They can be vague. And they can just about all be related to other much less serious conditions, particularly for less advanced ovarian cancer. There is more chance that they are caused by cancer if they are new, quite severe, don't go away or happen quite often. If you have any of these symptoms, do go to your GP and get a check up.
Many women with a very early stage of ovarian cancer often don't have any symptoms at all. The symptoms may be very vague but can include
- Pain in the lower abdomen or side
- Bloated, full feeling in the abdomen
'Stage' is how doctors describe how far a cancer has grown and spread. By very early stage cancer of the ovary, we mean cancer that is completely inside the ovary (stage 1).
An ovarian cancer that has grown outside the ovary may cause symptoms from the tumour growing anywhere in the area between the hip bones (the pelvis). This can cause
- Irregular periods or vaginal bleeding after menopause
- Lower tummy (abdominal) pain
- Back pain
- Passing urine more often than usual
- Constipation
- Pain during sex
- A swollen abdomen
- Feeling of fullness or loss of appetite
Ovarian cancer that has grown outside the ovary includes stage 2 and stage 3 ovarian cancer.
Doctors call cancer that has spread to another body organ stage 4 ovarian cancer. Symptoms may include
- Loss of appetite or a feeling of fullness in the tummy (abdomen)
- Feeling or being sick
- Constipation
- Tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Noticeable swelling of the abdomen
Many of these symptoms can be vague and can be difficult to spot. But remember that they can also be a sign of other illnesses that are not cancer. Most women with symptoms like these will not have cancer.
The earlier a cancer is picked up, the easier it is to treat it and the more likely the treatment is to be successful. So it is important that you go to your GP as soon as possible if you notice worrying symptoms.
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