early symptoms of ovarian cancer

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 21, 2024
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The early symptoms of ovarian cancer in patients are often not very obvious, so they are not easily noticed. The more common symptom is an abdominal mass, meaning you can feel a lump in the abdomen. In its early stages, the abdominal mass is not large and is not easily detectable. Most patients only discover it during gynecological examinations. As the disease progresses, the mass grows larger and the abdomen visibly expands, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, or lower abdominal discomfort. Another symptom is ascites, which is a more common sign in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

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Is there still hope for ovarian cancer recurrence?

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Can ovarian cancer that has spread still be cured?

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Early Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Patients with ovarian cancer may have relatively hidden clinical symptoms in the early stages, possibly without any specific discomfort, or just mild lower abdominal bloating or pain. Symptoms tend to become more apparent only when the tumor progressively enlarges or when ascites occur, such as increased abdominal bloating and pain. Furthermore, during a physical examination, a solid or cystic-solid mass can be palpated in the pelvic area. Ascites can also lead to clinical symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. In the late stages, partial intestinal obstruction or symptoms related to pelvic compression may appear.

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What are the early symptoms of ovarian cancer?

The early symptoms of ovarian cancer are not severe or common clinically. Some patients may experience abdominal distension and pain. Some may have menstrual irregularities, such as prolonged or shortened menstrual cycles, increased menstrual flow, or irregular bleeding outside of menstruation. Additionally, a small number of patients may experience pelvic pain due to local tumor compression caused by ovarian cancer. This pain occasionally radiates to the perineal area and is generally mild, rarely affecting the patient's quality of life. Furthermore, a minor proportion of ovarian cancer patients, particularly those with tumors having endocrine functions, may exhibit symptoms associated with paraneoplastic syndromes.

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Ovarian cancer requires the following examinations:

The examination for ovarian cancer begins with an abdominal ultrasound, which can clarify the tumor's size, shape, cystic or solid nature, location, and its relationship with neighboring organs. If necessary, CT scans and MRI can be conducted for a clearer view. Next are tumor markers, which are essential in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Additionally, CT scans of the lungs and head, or MRI, and a complete blood count of bone can help rule out distant metastasis. The most critical part is the pathological diagnosis, as the definitive diagnosis of tumors primarily relies on pathology. We can obtain a clear pathological diagnosis through laparoscopy or exploratory laparotomy.