How To Detect Early Warning Signs Of Ovarian Cancer?

Women have two ovaries each attached to a fallopian tube and on each side of the uterus more commonly known as the womb. When a malignant tumor grows on any of these organs the condition is termed ovarian cancer [signs of ovarian cancer].

Malignant means the tumor is active and highly cancerous that is rapidly multiplying and spreading which is highly detrimental to the health of a woman. It is a silent killer because it grows without or with few symptoms, which are often misdiagnosed.

More often than not, which is quite sad and bewildering, cancer of the ovaries is usually detected in its late stages and in some cases it will be too late to start effective treatment.

Researchers at the cancer institute are working hard to put out information that will help both doctors and women at large to detect this disease in its early stages so as to be able to diagnose it quickly.

They believe that a symptom survey could help with a quick tool for early detection of the disease. This is done by comparing symptoms of women who are at high risk with those already diagnosed so as to compile a symptom index to be used in the screening of the disease.

The symptoms like fatigue, pain during intercourse [dyspareunia], urinal problems for example spasms and swelling of the lower abdomen only occur during its late stages. Symptoms like excessive vaginal bleeding and spontaneous vaginal bleeding should immediately be a red flag and screening for ovarian cancer should be done.

Information should also be put out that there is no one symptom for this disease but a collection and if your medical doctor does not recommend screening for ovarian cancer when you suspect you may have it, it may be best to get a second, third or fourth opinion till you are satisfied with your diagnosis.

Because of the nature of the disease all medical institutions should recommend that all women especially those with history of cancer in their family should be regularly tested for the presence of such malignant growths. This will be effective in decreasing the percentage of late detection ovarian cancer cases to a minimal percentage.

Although current statistics show that the methods of detection present are not as effective as members of the medical field would want them to, it should be known that work is still continuing.

A group of doctors in the Europe are working on formulating a blood test that will screen for the presence of ovarian cancer that can be used in private surgery’s and doctors rooms and this should help with early detection of the disease.