Key Takeaways
- Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until later stages because symptoms are vague and there is no standard screening test.
- The most common sign is persistent bloating that feels different from normal weight gain.
- Other symptoms include feeling full quickly, frequent urination, and changes in bowel habits.
- Risk factors include age, never being pregnant, family history, and certain genetic mutations.
- Any symptom lasting more than one to two weeks should be checked by a doctor.
Ovarian cancer is sometimes called a “silent cancer” because it develops with few noticeable signs. There is currently no routine screening test for women without symptoms, which makes early detection difficult.
Dr. Jamie Bakkum-Gamez, a gynecologic oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, treats patients with ovarian cancer daily and monitors her own health for potential warning signs. Her perspective provides insight into what doctors consider important when evaluating symptoms.
“Every single day, I care for people with ovarian cancer,” Bakkum-Gamez tells TODAY.com.
What Doctors Look for in Ovarian Cancer
According to Dr. Bakkum-Gamez, the most common symptom is bloating.
Patients often assume they are simply gaining weight, but the swelling can actually be caused by a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites.
She explains that this can make the abdomen appear similar to a pregnancy. When she feels bloated herself, she checks whether it is due to extra fat on the outside of the abdominal wall or something firmer inside that could signal fluid.
Other symptoms she pays attention to include:
- Feeling full quickly (early satiety): When even small amounts of food lead to fullness, it may be due to a tumor or fluid limiting stomach space.
- Frequent urination: A pelvic mass can press on the bladder, reducing how much it can hold. Patients sometimes need to urinate three or four times during the night.
- Bowel habit changes: Constipation or diarrhea may occur when ovarian cancer spreads along the lining of the abdomen and pelvis, which also covers the intestines. Larger masses can press directly on the rectum or colon.
Additional possible signs mentioned include vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, abdominal pain, or back pain.
Why It Is Hard to Detect Early
Unlike breast cancer, which has mammograms, or cervical cancer, which has Pap tests, there is no reliable early screening test for ovarian cancer.
- Pelvic exams can sometimes detect ovarian masses.
- Pelvic ultrasound is the most sensitive imaging test for the ovaries and fallopian tubes, but very small cancers may not be visible.
- CA-125 blood tests measure tumor markers, but results can also be elevated for non-cancer reasons, so they are not used for general screening.
Dr. Bakkum-Gamez notes that ovarian cancer can grow from microscopic to widespread in just a few months, contributing to late-stage diagnoses.
Risk Factors
The American Cancer Society identify several risk factors:
- Age: Most patients are in their early to mid-60s.
- Never being pregnant: Pregnancy interrupts ovulation, which otherwise involves repeated inflammation on the ovary’s surface. Over time, this may damage DNA. [Speculation, described as a possible explanation in the source]
- Genetic mutations: BRCA1, BRCA2, or Lynch syndrome increase risk.
- Family history: About 20% of women with ovarian cancer have inherited gene mutations.
- Reproductive history: Starting menstruation before age 12 or reaching menopause after 52 also increase risk.
- Obesity was listed as another risk factor.
Dr. Bakkum-Gamez, who is 49 and has never been pregnant, acknowledges her own higher personal risk.
Survival Rates and Diagnosis
The National Cancer Institute reports:
- About 21,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed each year.
- Around 12,700 die annually from the disease.
- 55% of cases are diagnosed only after the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries.
- Five-year survival rate:
- Over 90% when caught early.
- About one in three when it has spread to surrounding organs.
- 52% overall survival rate across all stages.
When to See a Doctor
Dr. Bakkum-Gamez emphasizes that any symptom lasting more than one to two weeks should be evaluated. While many of the signs such as bloating, bathroom changes, or weight gain can have other explanations, persistence is a warning that something more serious may be happening.
