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Did you know that every year tens of women in Slovakia alone lose their battle with ovarian cancer?
There are many causes that can trigger this disease. The most common among them are age, genetic predisposition, and improper use of contraceptive pills.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer are often not very clear. However, if a woman can correctly identify them at an early stage, it can literally save her life.
In fact, over 80% of women are diagnosed with this disease only at relatively advanced stages.
Let’s now take a closer look at the 10 most common symptoms of the cancer.
1. Frequent back pain
If you do not suffer from joint pain or osteoporosis and yet have frequent back pain, it may be a symptom or sign of developing ovarian cancer.
2. Pain in the stomach or pelvic area
If you experience long-term pain in the pelvic or abdominal area, do not ignore it. For safety, consult a doctor as soon as possible.
3. Irregular menstruation
A recent study confirmed that women over 55 are most susceptible to ovarian cancer.
However, this does not mean that younger women are safe. There are even cases where this disease affected girls who had not yet had their first period.
If you have irregular periods without an obvious cause, be sure to consult your gynecologist.
4. Frequent unexplained fatigue
Nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and constant feelings of tiredness — all of these can be symptoms that ovarian cancer is present in the body.
Up to 80% of women have one of the listed symptoms before they are diagnosed with this type of cancer.
5. Feeling full quickly after eating
Feeling full after eating is another important and frequently occurring symptom of ovarian cancer. For many women this is even one of the first symptoms.
They usually think it is a digestive problem, but that is a mistaken assumption. If this applies to you, definitely visit a doctor.
6. Pain during sexual intercourse
According to Medical News Today, this is a significant sign that ovarian cancer may be present in the body.
These pains often occur together with the need to urinate frequently and also with pain and pressure in the pelvic area of the abdomen.
It does not matter whether the pain is mild or more intense. In this case, again, you should seek medical help as soon as possible.
7. Vomiting
Jeffrey Stern, a well-known American gynecologist, states that ovarian cancer is often accompanied by constipation.
This situation worsens over time and is followed by nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.
8. Swollen/ bloated abdomen
If you notice your abdomen is swollen like that of pregnant women, then see a doctor immediately.
This is another sign that you may have ovarian cancer.
9. Excessive hair growth or darkening of hair
Although not entirely typical symptoms of ovarian cancer, they should not be ignored.
In some women, instead of excessive hair growth, the opposite may occur — loss of hair and body hair.
10. Frequent constipation
Ovarian cancer has a direct effect on the digestive system and stomach. This effect is strongest in its early stages, so it is good to pay proper attention to them.
According to Medicine Plus magazine, it mainly involves stomach pain and other symptoms such as digestive difficulties, loss of appetite, bloating and constipation.
If you notice the listed symptoms in yourself, be sure to seek medical help.
Doctor’s statement on the article
One of the specialists from the Family Doctor service, who are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, also provided his opinion on the article.
The most important thing to prevent ovarian cancer, or to detect it at an early stage, is regular check-ups with a gynecologist.
And if you have any problems related to the reproductive tract, undergo an examination immediately.
