Early symptoms of ovarian cancer

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on April 09, 2025
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The early clinical symptoms of ovarian cancer primarily include the following aspects: 1. Discomfort and dull pain in the lower abdomen, with some patients experiencing a sensation of heaviness in the pelvis. Alongside this, patients may also experience poor appetite, nausea, belching, and a feeling of bloating in the stomach. 2. A sensation of abdominal fullness is a clinical manifestation that can appear early in ovarian cancer patients, often caused by cancerous ascites due to the disease. 3. In very few cases, early-stage ovarian cancer patients may feel a mass in the abdomen, typically in leaner patients. 4. Some early-stage patients may experience mild abdominal pain, which generally occurs intermittently and can resolve on its own without the need for medication. 5. Patients may exhibit menstrual irregularities and some endocrine symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding.

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Written by Liu Liang
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How long can one live after ovarian cancer recurrence?

If ovarian cancer patients experience a recurrence after surgery and it is a simple local pelvic recurrence without distant organ metastasis, the treatment method involves evaluating whether another surgical resection can be performed by a gynecologist. However, if there is a recurrence combined with extensive pelvic metastasis, or metastasis to multiple organs, the treatment mainly involves chemotherapy. Therefore, how long a patient can live after ovarian cancer recurrence depends on the severity of the recurrence, the patient's physical condition, and the sensitivity to treatment, among other factors. Thus, it cannot be generalized as there is significant individual variation.

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Written by Yan Chun
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What are the early symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Patients with ovarian cancer often do not exhibit many symptoms in the early stages, and many do not have obvious symptoms initially. Some patients may experience pelvic pain due to tumor growth early on, primarily located in the bilateral pelvic area, with some experiencing pain that radiates to the perineal area. Some early-stage ovarian cancer patients may experience abnormalities in their menstrual cycle, primarily manifested as irregular menstruation, increased menstrual flow, and the presence of blood clots. Some patients may also experience abnormal vaginal bleeding outside of their menstrual period. In addition, some patients in the early stages may exhibit signs of abnormal hormone secretion. Aside from these, most early-stage ovarian cancer patients do not show obvious symptoms.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is there still hope for ovarian cancer recurrence?

Most ovarian malignant tumors, which are ovarian cancers, are relatively sensitive to chemotherapy. Therefore, in many cases, the treatment of ovarian cancer is a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Even if ovarian cancer recurs, there are still many treatment options available, with chemotherapy being the most commonly used method. Many patients can still benefit from chemotherapy.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Early screening for ovarian cancer allows for about 20% of cases to be diagnosed in their early stages. Detection generally follows these procedures: 1. Routine gynecological health check-ups. 2. Visiting a hospital due to certain symptoms. 3. Ovarian cancer screening. Common methods include transvaginal ultrasound and serum CA125 testing. Additional tests include tumor marker CA125 and checks for AFP, CA19-9, and CEA. Ultrasonography (B-ultrasound) can preliminarily determine the tumor size, shape, solidity, location, and its relation to surrounding organs. CT scans and MRI can further clarify the tumor's nature and the extent of invasion into the abdominal and pelvic organs. If necessary, gastroscopy can be performed to rule out primary gastrointestinal tumors, and if economic conditions allow, a PADCT scan can also be conducted.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Does ovarian cancer cause abdominal pain every day?

Patients with ovarian cancer often experience abdominal pain as a common symptom. This is because ovarian cancer can widely implant itself within the pelvic and abdominal cavity, or directly invade the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other tissues and organs within the pelvis, resulting in symptoms of abdominal pain. However, not every patient with ovarian cancer will necessarily exhibit abdominal pain as a clinical symptom, nor is it the case that abdominal pain will occur every day. For instance, some patients with early-stage ovarian cancer may have more concealed clinical presentations and may not experience any specific discomfort. They might discover the disease through physical examinations, gynecological exams, or through ultrasound scans of the uterine adnexa conducted during physical check-ups.