What are the symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on January 30, 2025
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The symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer mainly include the following aspects. Patients may experience persistent lower abdominal pain for no apparent reason, and some patients may experience radiating pain in the vulvar area, while others may show early clinical signs of abdominal bloating. The symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer are not very numerous. Some patients may exhibit menstrual irregularities, such as increased or decreased menstruation, prolonged periods, or irregular vaginal bleeding. A few patients may experience abnormal vaginal discharge, which can be mixed with an unusual odor and a small amount of blood.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is ovarian cancer curable?

Early-stage ovarian cancer patients, meaning those without extensive ascites buildup, and without widespread implant metastasis in the pelvic and abdominal cavity, and without metastasis to distant organs like the liver and lungs. These very early-stage ovarian cancer patients can undergo radical surgery. Postoperative treatment decisions, such as whether postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy is needed, are based on the postoperative pathological report, which looks for high-risk factors for recurrence such as vascular cancer emboli or neural invasion. Through these treatment approaches, very early-stage ovarian cancer patients can achieve a cure, but this is not absolute. It's not guaranteed that every early-stage ovarian cancer patient can be cured, as there are individual differences. Clinically, if there is no recurrence or metastasis within five years, it is considered a cure.

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Oncology
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Can ovarian cancer be cured?

Whether ovarian cancer can be cured depends on the clinical stage of the patient, as well as the patient's sensitivity to treatment, among other factors. If it is a case of early-stage ovarian cancer, curative surgery can be performed. After surgery, based on the pathology, it can be decided whether postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy is necessary. Patients with early-stage ovarian cancer who undergo surgery or postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy may have hope for a cure. However, if the cancer is discovered at a late stage where it has spread extensively, such as widespread metastasis to the pelvic area, or even to distant organs like the lungs or liver, then the treatment for these patients is primarily chemotherapy. A cure is not achievable; the treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and prolong the patient's life. Thus, for patients with late-stage ovarian cancer, treatment cannot achieve a curative purpose.

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

In the early stages, ovarian cancer often doesn't show many symptoms and can be detected during gynecological examinations. However, as it progresses, symptoms such as abdominal bloating, lumps in the abdomen, and ascites may occur. The severity of these symptoms depends on the size and location of the tumor, the extent to which it has invaded nearby organs, the histological type of the tumor, and whether the malignant tumor, ovarian cancer, has metastasized to other areas or is accompanied by other complications.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can ovarian cancer that has spread still be cured?

If ovarian cancer has spread, it is generally considered to be at an advanced stage. The treatment for advanced ovarian cancer primarily involves chemotherapy. Epithelial cancer, the most common type of ovarian cancer, is particularly sensitive to chemotherapy. Most patients benefit from chemotherapy. However, once ovarian cancer has spread and is not caught at a very early stage, even with treatments like chemotherapy, it cannot be cured. The purpose of treatment at this stage is to alleviate the patient's pain and extend their survival, but it cannot be cured.

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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.