Ovarian Cancer symptoms are subtle & vague.  

If you have PERSISTENT symptoms, ask your doctor.  In many cases, when ovarian cancer is detected early, it can be cured.  It is important to listen to your body . . . and take action.

Not every women gets all of these symptoms.  Just having one or two PERSISTENT symptoms is enough to ask your doctor for an evaluation. 

Symptoms include:

• Vague abdominal pain or pelvic pressure
• Low back discomfort 
• Mild nausea
• Feeling full early when eating
• Constipation & gas
• Urinary frequency, constipation, or diarrhea
• Unusual fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Pain during intercourse.

NOTE:  Women do not experience all of these symptoms.  If you have one or more symptom consistently for several weeks, see your doctor [preferably a gynecologist.]

What should you ask your doctor to do?

Tell your doctor about your specific concerns.  It is important to be clear and to ask for an examination that includes: 

• A pelvic exam to carefully evaluate the ovaries, uterus, bladder, and rectum.  [This is a vaginal/rectal pelvic exam.] 
• Examination of the abdomen for presence of an enlarged liver, a mass, or fluid in the abdomen [called ascites].
• Examination of the neck, groin, and underarms for enlarged lymph nodes.