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About one fourth of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage. Finding the cancer early improves the chances that it can be treated successfully. Nine out of 10 women treated for early ovarian cancer will live longer than 5 years after the cancer is found.
Regular women’s health exams are critical in early ovarian cancer detection.
During a pelvic exam, the doctor will feel the female organs to check their size and shape.
Unfortunately, this is often not enough due to the location of ovaries deep within the female’s body, making it difficult for the doctor to feel them.
Pap tests help detect cervical cancer early; however, are not as useful for finding ovarian cancer at an early stage.
Early cancers of the ovaries tend to cause symptoms that are somewhat vague, and may be caused by something other than cancer. Symptoms might include:
By the time ovarian cancer is thought of as a possible cause of these symptoms, it may already have spread beyond the ovaries.
Also, some types of ovarian cancer can quickly spread to the surface of nearby organs.
Prompt attention to symptoms can improve the odds of early cancer detection and treatment.
If you have any of the symptoms above, report them to your doctor right away.
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