Does ovarian cancer cause abdominal pain every day?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Patients with ovarian cancer often experience abdominal pain as a common symptom. This is because ovarian cancer can widely implant itself within the pelvic and abdominal cavity, or directly invade the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other tissues and organs within the pelvis, resulting in symptoms of abdominal pain. However, not every patient with ovarian cancer will necessarily exhibit abdominal pain as a clinical symptom, nor is it the case that abdominal pain will occur every day. For instance, some patients with early-stage ovarian cancer may have more concealed clinical presentations and may not experience any specific discomfort. They might discover the disease through physical examinations, gynecological exams, or through ultrasound scans of the uterine adnexa conducted during physical check-ups.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer often does not present symptoms in its early stages and can be detected during gynecological examinations. Secondly, as the tumor grows, it can cause abdominal swelling and discomfort, and abdominal masses may be felt during examinations. Ascites may also develop. The severity of these symptoms depends on the size and location of the tumor, the nearby organs it invades, and the histological type of the tumor. Thirdly, if the tumor infiltrates or compresses surrounding tissues, it can also lead to abdominal pain, back pain, and pain in the lower extremities. If it compresses the pelvic veins, swelling in the lower limbs may occur. If the tumor is functional, it can produce symptoms related to excess estrogen or androgen. In its later stages, the condition may manifest as cachexia and severe anemia, among other signs of a severe illness state.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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early symptoms of ovarian cancer

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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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is there still hope for ovarian cancer recurrence?

Most ovarian malignant tumors, which are ovarian cancers, are relatively sensitive to chemotherapy. Therefore, in many cases, the treatment of ovarian cancer is a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Even if ovarian cancer recurs, there are still many treatment options available, with chemotherapy being the most commonly used method. Many patients can still benefit from chemotherapy.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Early treatment methods for ovarian cancer

The treatment methods for early-stage ovarian cancer should first and foremost include a clear diagnosis and staging. If the staging indicates an early stage, then surgical treatment can be applied. There are many surgical options available, such as cytoreductive surgery, interval debulking surgery, second-look laparotomy, and direct tumor cell reduction surgery. After the surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy can be administered for treatment.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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How is ovarian cancer screened?

The most commonly used screening method for ovarian cancer is the B-ultrasound examination of the adnexa uteri. The B-ultrasound can detect ovarian masses and tumors, and when these are found, the possibility of ovarian cancer should be considered, necessitating further examinations for confirmation. Another method involves the tumor marker CA125, which is relatively sensitive and specific for epithelial ovarian cancer. Therefore, for ovarian cancer screening, we can perform a blood test for CA125 in conjunction with a B-ultrasound of the adnexa uteri.