Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

List of symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Ovarian Cancer includes the 33 symptoms listed below:

• No early symptoms - there are no major symptoms until late in development
• Vague symptoms
• Abdominal symptoms - often from the spread of ovarian cancer to abdominal areas
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Abdominal pain
  • Early satiety
  • Indigestion
  • Abdominal mass
  • Ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity)
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Lack of appetite
• Dyspepsia
• Malaise
• Urinary frequency
• Weight change - either a gain or loss can occur
• Weight gain
• Weight loss
• Loss of energy
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Deepening voice
• Hair growth
• Lower abdominal pain
• Changes in weight
• Menstrual abnormalities
• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• Reduced appetite
• Nausea
• Abdominal bloating
• Back pain

Note that Ovarian Cancer symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Ovarian Cancer signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Research More About Ovarian Cancer

Do I have Ovarian Cancer?

• Ovarian Cancer: Introduction
• Ovarian Cancer: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Ovarian Cancer
• Failure to Diagnose Ovarian Cancer
• Hidden Causes of Ovarian Cancer
• How serious is it?
• Treatments for Ovarian Cancer
• More about Ovarian Cancer

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Ovarian Cancer:

• Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
  • Home Colorectal Cancer Tests
  • Home Fecal Occult Bleeding Tests

Wrongly Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Ovarian Cancer includes:

• Krukenberg tumor - an ovarian tumor caused by metastatic stomach cancer.
• Benign ovarian tumour
• Malignant ovarian tumour
• Teratoma
• Tuboovarian abscess

See the full list of 21 alternative diagnoses for Ovarian Cancer

More about symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

More information about symptoms of Ovarian Cancer and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Ovarian Cancer
• Underlying causes of Ovarian Cancer
• Associated conditions for Ovarian Cancer
• Risk factors for Ovarian Cancer

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Abdominal bloating - see all causes of Abdominal swelling
• Abdominal bloating - see all causes of Abdominal swelling
• Abdominal discomfort - see all causes of Abdominal discomfort
• Abdominal mass - see all causes of Abdominal mass
• Abdominal pain - see all causes of Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling - see all causes of Abdominal swelling
• Abdominal symptoms - see all causes of Abdominal symptoms
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding - see all causes of Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity) - see all causes of Abdominal swelling
• Back pain - see all causes of Back pain
• Changes in weight - see all causes of Weight change
• Constipation - see all causes of Constipation
• Deepening voice - see all causes of Deepening voice
• Diarrhea - see all causes of Diarrhea
• Dyspepsia - see all causes of Dyspepsia
• Early satiety - see all causes of Fullness
• Hair growth - see all causes of Hairiness
• Indigestion - see all causes of Indigestion
• Lack of appetite - see all causes of Poor appetite
• Loss of energy - see all causes of Fatigue
• Lower abdominal pain - see all causes of Lower abdominal pain
• Malaise - see all causes of Malaise
• Menstrual abnormalities - see all causes of Menstrual irregularities
• Nausea - see all causes of Nausea
• Nausea - see all causes of Nausea
• No early symptoms - see all causes of No symptoms
• Reduced appetite - see all causes of Poor appetite
• Urinary frequency - see all causes of Frequent urination
• Vague symptoms - see all causes of Vague symptoms
• Weight change - see all causes of Weight change
• Weight gain - see all causes of Weight gain
• Weight loss - see all causes of Weight loss

Medical Books Online about Ovarian Cancer

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Ovarian Cancer are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Ovarian Cancer.

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cysts: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Small ovarian cysts (such as follicular cysts) usually don’t produce symptoms unless torsion or rupture causes signs of an acute abdomen (abdominal tenderness, distention, and rigidity). Large or multiple cysts may induce mild pelvic discomfort, low back pain, dyspareunia, or abnormal uterine bleeding secondary to a disturbed ovulatory pattern. Ovarian cysts with torsion induce acute abdominal pain similar to that of appendicitis.

Granulosa-lutein cysts that appear early in pregnancy may grow as large as 2" to 2½"(5 to 6 cm) in diameter and produce unilateral pelvic discomfort and, if rupture occurs, massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage. In nonpregnant women, these cysts may cause delayed menses, followed by prolonged or irregular bleeding. Polycystic ovarian disease may also produce secondary amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, or infertility.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Uterine cancer: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Uterine enlargement, and persistent and unusual premenopausal bleeding, or any postmenopausal bleeding, are the most common indications of uterine cancer. The discharge may at first be watery and blood-streaked, but it gradually becomes more bloody. Other signs or symptoms, such as pain and weight loss, don't appear until the cancer is well advanced.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Ovarian cancer: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Typically, symptoms vary with the size of the tumor. An ovary may grow to considerable size before it produces overt symptoms. Occasionally, in the early stages, ovarian cancer causes vague abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, and other mild GI disturbances. As it progresses, it causes urinary frequency, constipation, pelvic discomfort, distention, and weight loss. Tumor rupture, torsion, or infection may cause pain, which, in young patients, may mimic appendicitis. Granulosa cell tumors have feminizing effects (such as bleeding between periods in premenopausal women); conversely, arrhenoblastomas have virilizing effects. Advanced ovarian cancer causes ascites, rarely postmenopausal bleeding and pain, and symptoms relating to metastatic sites (most commonly pleural effusions).

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Malignant spinal neoplasms: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Extramedullary tumors produce symptoms by pressing on nerve roots, the spinal cord, and spinal vessels; intramedullary tumors, by destroying the parenchyma and compressing adjacent areas. Because intramedullary tumors may extend over several spinal cord segments, their symptoms are more variable than those of extramedullary tumors.

The following clinical effects are likely with all malignant spinal cord neoplasms:

❑Pain — Most severe directly over the tumor, radiates around the trunk or down the limb on the affected side and is unrelieved by bed rest. It may worsen when lying down or with straining, coughing, or sneezing. Pain can be diffuse, occurring over all extremities. Generally, it progressively worsens and isn't relieved by medication.

❑ Motor symptoms — Asymmetric spastic muscle weakness, decreased muscle tone, exaggerated reflexes, and a positive Babinski's sign. If the tumor is at the level of the cauda equina, muscle flaccidity, muscle wasting, weakness, and progressive diminution in tendon reflexes are characteristic.

❑ Sensory deficits — Contralateral loss of pain, temperature, and touch sensation (Brown-Séquard's syndrome). These losses are less obvious to the patient than functional motor changes. Caudal lesions invariably produce paresthesias in the nerve distribution pathway of the involved roots.

❑Bowel and bladder symptoms — Urine retention is an inevitable late sign with cord compression. Early signs include incomplete emptying or difficulty with the urine stream, which is usually unnoticed or ignored. Cauda equina tumors cause bladder and bowel incontinence due to flaccid paralysis.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Ovarian cysts: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Small ovarian cysts (such as follicular cysts) usually don’t produce symptoms unless torsion or rupture causes signs of an acute abdomen (abdominal tenderness, distention, and rigidity). Large or multiple cysts may induce mild pelvic discomfort, low back pain, dyspareunia, or abnormal uterine bleeding secondary to a disturbed ovulatory pattern. Ovarian cysts with torsion induce acute abdominal pain similar to that of appendicitis.

Granulosa-lutein cysts that appear early in pregnancy may grow as large as 2" to 2½" (5 to 6 cm) in diameter and produce unilateral pelvic discomfort and, if rupture occurs, massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage. In nonpregnant women, these cysts may cause delayed menses, followed by prolonged or irregular bleeding. Polycystic ovarian disease may also produce secondary amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, or infertility.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Uterine cancer: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Uterine enlargement and persistent and unusual premenopausal bleeding, or any postmenopausal bleeding, are the most common indications of uterine cancer. The discharge may at first be watery and blood-streaked but gradually becomes more bloody. Other symptoms, such as pain and weight loss, don’t appear until the cancer is well advanced.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Ovarian cancer: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Typically, symptoms vary with the size of the tumor. Occasionally, in the early stages, ovarian cancer causes vague abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, and other mild GI disturbances. As it progresses, it causes urinary frequency, constipation, pelvic discomfort, abdominal distention, and weight loss.

Tumor rupture, torsion, or infection may cause pain, which, in young patients, may mimic appendicitis. Granulosa cell tumors have feminizing effects (such as bleeding between periods in premenopausal women); conversely, arrhenoblastomas have virilizing effects. Advanced ovarian cancer causes ascites, rarely postmenopausal bleeding and pain, and symptoms relating to metastatic sites (most commonly pleural effusions).

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

Ovarian Cancer: NWHIC (Excerpt)

There are usually no obvious symptoms of ovarian cancer. Women complain about vague symptoms including abdominal swelling or bloating, generalized abdominal discomfort, early satiety, lack of appetite, dyspepsia, malaise, urinary frequency or weight change (either gain or loss). Women may develop unexplained ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity) which contributes to the abdominal discomfort. Because the symptoms are not unique to ovarian cancer, the disease can be difficult to identify and diagnose. (Source: excerpt from Ovarian Cancer: NWHIC)

What You Need To Know About Ovarian Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)

Ovarian cancer often shows no obvious signs or symptoms until late in its development. Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:

• General abdominal discomfort and/or pain (gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, cramps)

• Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or frequent urination

• Loss of appetite

• Feeling of fullness even after a light meal

• Weight gain or loss with no known reason

• Abnormal bleeding from the vagina

Ovarian Cancer as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions

When considering symptoms of Ovarian Cancer, it is also important to consider Ovarian Cancer as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Ovarian Cancer may cause:

• Abdominal pain
• Amenorrhoea
• Ascites
• Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, warm antibody
• Bowel obstruction
• CEA raised
• Coombs positive, direct
• Cutaneous metastasis
• Female infertility
• Hepatomegaly
• Hirsutism
• Hyperoestrogenic states
• Liver metastases
• Nausea and vomiting
• Ovarian torsion
• Pelvic mass
• Post-menopausal PV bleed
• Precocious puberty
• Sister Mary Joseph's nodule
• Testosterone levels raised (serum)

Ovarian Cancer as a symptom:

For a more detailed analysis of Ovarian Cancer as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Ovarian Cancer.

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Ovarian Cancer
• How serious is Ovarian Cancer?
• More about Ovarian Cancer
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. This signs and symptoms information for Ovarian Cancer has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Ovarian Cancer signs or Ovarian Cancer symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Ovarian Cancer may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Ovarian Cancer symptoms.