Are You Missing This Sign of Ovarian Cancer?

Do you find yourself quickly feeling full after starting to eat? If this is happens often, don’t ignore it.

Ovarian cancer has often been referred to as the cancer that whispers, as symptoms associated with the disease are typically subtle and can easily be mistaken for something else. Unfortunately, this causes approximately two-thirds of women who have ovarian cancer to be diagnosed at a late stage of the disease, when it is difficult to treat.

Ovarian cancer rates are highest among women whose age range is 55 to 64 years old. While the risk for ovarian cancer increases as a person gets older, it is possible to develop the disease at any age. This risk increases for women who have a family history of ovarian, breast, uterine or colorectal cancer.

Warning Signs for Ovarian Cancer

“While there are many signs you should be wary of, one sign of ovarian cancer that many women may miss is feeling full quickly after starting to eat,” says Allison Hill MD, an OB/Gyn at PIH Health Women’s Center-Wilshire. Of course, this is a symptom that can easily be attributed to gastrointestinal issues and may be ignored. In addition to feeling full quickly, other subtle warning signs of ovarian cancer include:

• Abdominal pain, bloating or swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent urination
• Changes in bowel habits
• Pelvic discomfort
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Back pain
• Unexplained fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

Many of these symptoms are often ignored or attributed to another cause.

If you notice that you’ve been feeling full quickly even though you haven’t eaten much, or you have other symptoms of ovarian cancer, talk to your doctor as these symptoms may be warning signs of this very serious disease.

Screening for Ovarian Cancer

“There are no routine screening tests for ovarian cancer, which makes it hard to easily identify the disease during its early stages,” shares Dr. Hill. Since many people experience no symptoms at all or vague symptoms such as those listed above, it can be hard to know when someone should be screened for ovarian cancer. If there is cause for concern, your doctor may do an internal exam, as well as an ultrasound or CT scan. You may also be sent for blood tests to look for certain cancer markers.

It’s understandable that many women don’t know when to be concerned enough about possible ovarian cancer symptoms to see a doctor. If you have a family history of ovarian cancer, err on the side of caution and get checked even if you’re not sure. If you have symptoms that persist and you haven’t found a valid explanation for them, it may also be a good idea to talk to your doctor or gynecologist about the possibility of whether your symptoms may be attributable to ovarian cancer.

Visit PIHHealth.org/Women to learn about our Women’s Health program or visit PIHHealth.org/Find-A-Doctor  to find a doctor near you.

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