What are the symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on January 30, 2025
00:00
00:00

The symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer mainly include the following aspects. Patients may experience persistent lower abdominal pain for no apparent reason, and some patients may experience radiating pain in the vulvar area, while others may show early clinical signs of abdominal bloating. The symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer are not very numerous. Some patients may exhibit menstrual irregularities, such as increased or decreased menstruation, prolonged periods, or irregular vaginal bleeding. A few patients may experience abnormal vaginal discharge, which can be mixed with an unusual odor and a small amount of blood.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
1min 1sec home-news-image

Symptoms of ovarian cancer brain metastasis

Patients with ovarian cancer experiencing brain metastases are relatively uncommon in clinical settings. The primary symptom of brain metastasis is intracranial hypertension, which includes severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, including projectile vomiting during meals — all symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. Additionally, if there is significant brain swelling, the patient may experience weakness in the limbs on the opposite side of the body, similar to symptoms of paralysis seen in stroke patients. Furthermore, if the brain metastasis leads to the formation of a brain herniation, the patient may experience symptoms such as coma.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
50sec home-news-image

How is ovarian cancer treated?

Our treatment principle is that once an ovarian tumor is detected, surgical treatment should be performed. First and foremost, we need to confirm the diagnosis. Second, we should clarify the pathological staging of the ovarian cancer to guide the treatment. It's not a single approach; it's a comprehensive treatment plan. For example, if it is early stage and there are no surgical contraindications, we can proceed with surgical treatment. After the surgery, we can provide adjunctive chemotherapy. If surgery is not immediately feasible, we can also provide neoadjuvant therapy to reduce the stage before proceeding with ovarian cancer surgery. Moreover, there is now targeted therapy and immunotherapy for ovarian cancer, so it is a comprehensive treatment plan.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
1min 11sec home-news-image

Is ovarian cancer curable?

Early-stage ovarian cancer patients, meaning those without extensive ascites buildup, and without widespread implant metastasis in the pelvic and abdominal cavity, and without metastasis to distant organs like the liver and lungs. These very early-stage ovarian cancer patients can undergo radical surgery. Postoperative treatment decisions, such as whether postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy is needed, are based on the postoperative pathological report, which looks for high-risk factors for recurrence such as vascular cancer emboli or neural invasion. Through these treatment approaches, very early-stage ovarian cancer patients can achieve a cure, but this is not absolute. It's not guaranteed that every early-stage ovarian cancer patient can be cured, as there are individual differences. Clinically, if there is no recurrence or metastasis within five years, it is considered a cure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
38sec home-news-image

Ovarian cancer stage IC means

If it is stage Ic ovarian cancer, it refers to the tumor being confined to one or both ovaries, without involvement of other pelvic organs or distant organs such as the liver or lungs. However, it must meet any of the following conditions: the first is the rupture of the capsule with tumor on the surface; the second is the presence of cancer cells in the ascites or peritoneal lavage fluid. Meeting any of these conditions, along with the tumor being limited to one or both ovaries, classifies it as stage Ic.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
40sec home-news-image

Ovarian Cancer Dietary Precautions

The occurrence of ovarian cancer is not greatly related to dietary habits, so there are no special dietary restrictions or forbidden foods for patients with ovarian cancer. In Western medicine, unlike Traditional Chinese Medicine, which mentions certain "stimulating foods," there are no such prohibitions. Therefore, the diet for patients with ovarian cancer is the same as for anyone else, only requiring a balanced, comprehensive nutrition, and a combination of meat and vegetables. There are no special dietary considerations needed.