Ovarian Colorado
Information for the Public
Warning Signs
One of the biggest problems in detecting ovarian cancer is that symptoms may be subtle and not very specific. Ovarian cancer has been described as the disease that “whispers,” meaning that the symptoms are there, but they are too often overlooked both by the woman and her doctor.
However, it is important to be aware of these symptoms and see your doctor if they PERSIST for more than a couple weeks:
- General abdominal discomfort (bloating, increased abdominal size, indigestion, pressure, gas)
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Increased urinary frequency/urgency
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
It is also important to know that just because you have one or more of these symptoms, does not mean you have ovarian cancer. These symptoms listed above can occur for reasons other than ovarian cancer.
The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are typically ‘subtle.’ It is important to know your body and pay attention to changes that occur. Be proactive and partner with your health care provider to address concerns you may have.
See the Worksheets page to download a worksheet that you can fill out and give to your health care provider.
