posted by Irish Cancer Society
02 July 2008
What are the symptoms of cancer of the ovary?
Last reply:
12 October 2015 11:14
With cancer of the ovary most women will not notice anything in the early stages. It can take a long time for symptoms to occur. When symptoms do appear, they can be vague and quite mild. These can include:
Poor appetite
Vague indigestion or nausea
Bloated feeling
Swollen abdomen-caused by build up of fluid called ascites
Pain or dragging sensation in the lower abdomen or side
Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
Change in bowel or bladder habits, such as constipation, diarrhoea or wanting to pass urine often
Even though these symptoms can be caused by complaints other than cancer, it is very important that you have them checked out by your doctor
My mam and a friends mam had very different symptoms with their ovarian cancer.
My mam was losing weight and was just putting it down to an active lifestyle, but my friends mam had alot of swelling around her abdomen and looked like she was just putting on weight.
What triggered my mam to visit her doctor was the "leaking" she had. At first she thought maybe her bladder was leaking but she has always being one for her pelvic floor exercises and knew it couldnt be urine, her docter was completely baffled at first. Then examination of a sample showed that it was fluid from a cyst on her ovary. I dont think this is a very common symptom but thankfully it was bizarre enough to get my mam to visit her doctor.