Ovarian Cancer

What are the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer may cause the following signs and symptoms:

• Vaginal bleeding, such as irregular periods, bleeding that is heavier than normal for you, or that occurs when you are past menopause.
• Discharge from your vagina that is not normal for you.
• Pain or pressure in the pelvic or abdominal area.
• Back pain.
• Bloating or feeling full quickly while eating.
• Change in bathroom habits, such as having to pass urine very often and with greater than usual urgency, constipation, or diarrhea.

Pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. If you have unusual vaginal bleeding, see a doctor right away. If you have any of the other signs for two weeks or longer and they are not normal for you, see a doctor. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see a doctor

There are two very rare types of gynecologic cancer that are similar to ovarian cancer:

Fallopian tube cancer starts in the fallopian tubes, the tubes where eggs pass from the ovaries to the uterus.

Primary peritoneal cancer starts in the peritoneum, the tissue lining that covers the organs in the abdomen.

Download the gynecologic cancer symptoms diary

What raises a woman’s chance of getting ovarian cancer?

There is no way to know if you will get ovarian cancer. However, there are several factors that may increase the chance that you will get it, including if you:

• Are middle-aged or older.
• Have close family members (such as your mother, sister, aunt, or grandmother) on either your mother’s or your father’s side, who have had ovarian cancer.
• Have had breast, uterine, or colorectal cancer.
• Have an Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish background.
• Have never given birth or have had trouble getting pregnant.
• Have endometriosis.
• Have tested positive for a genetic abnormality called a BRCA1 or BRCA2.

In addition, some studies suggest that women who take estrogen by itself (estrogen without progesterone) for 10 or more years may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

If one or more of these is true for you, it does not mean you will get ovarian cancer. But you should talk to a doctor about your risk.

How can I help prevent or lower my chance of getting ovarian cancer?

There is no known way to prevent ovarian cancer. But these things are associated with a lower chance of getting it:

• Having used birth control pills for more than five years.
• Having had a tubal ligation (getting your tubes tied), both ovaries removed, or a hysterectomy.
• Having given birth.

Are there ways to find ovarian cancer early?

Currently there is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer, and it can be very hard to identify ovarian cancer early. The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are not always clear and may be hard to recognize.

The Pap test does not screen for ovarian cancer. The only cancer the Pap test screens for is cervical cancer. That is why it is so important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. If you notice any changes in your body that last for two weeks or longer and may be a sign or symptom of ovarian cancer, talk to a doctor and ask about possible causes.

Rectovaginal pelvic exams, transvaginal ultrasounds, and CA-125 blood tests can be used in combination to help diagnose ovarian cancer. Ask a doctor about these tests, if:

• You have any unexplained signs or symptoms of ovarian cancer that last for two or more weeks.
• You had breast, uterine, or colorectal cancer.
• A close relative had ovarian cancer or you tested positive for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

When ovarian cancer is found early, treatment can be most effective.

Should I have a genetic test for ovarian cancer?

If you or your family have a history of breast or ovarian cancer, your doctor may recommend genetic testing and counseling. Genetic testing is useful for a very small percentage of women who have a family history of cancer. It is not recommended for all women, but it is important for all women to know their family history.

Genetic testing can help some women find out if they have an increased chance of developing breast and ovarian cancer. It works by finding changes or alterations in genes known as breast cancer susceptibility
genes 1 and 2 (BRCA1 and BRCA2).

If you are considering genetic testing, you should get genetic counseling to help you decide whether to get tested, and to learn what the test results may mean for you.

If the following is true for you, you may benefit from genetic counseling and testing:

You have an Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish background, and on your mother’s or father’s side you have one of the following:

• A first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with breast or ovarian cancer.
• Two second-degree relatives (grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or half-sibling) on the same side of the family with breast or ovarian cancer.

You do not have an Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish background, but on your mother’s or father’s side you have one of the following:

• Two first-degree relatives (i.e., parent, sibling, or child) with breast cancer and at least one of them was diagnosed at or before the age of 50.
• A combination of three or more first- or second-degree relatives with breast cancer, regardless of the age they were when the cancer was diagnosed.
• A combination of breast and ovarian cancer among first- and second-degree relatives.
• A first-degree relative with breast cancer in both breasts.
• A combination of two or more first- or second-degree relatives with ovarian cancer, regardless of the age they were when the cancer was diagnosed.
• A first- or second-degree relative with both breast and ovarian cancer, diagnosed at any age.
• A history of breast cancer in a male relative.