What are the early warning signs of ovarian cancer? This is a very difficult question to answer, because while there are symptoms in the beginning stages of the disease, they tend to be so mild that both the woman herself and her doctors may not think the symptoms are indicative of ovarian cancer. This is particularly the case if the woman doesn't have ovarian cancer in her family's history. Yet, it's still helpful if women are at least aware of the most common signs of ovarian cancer. By knowing what the symptoms are, she may not discredit the possibility of ovarian cancer, especially if they get worse in a relatively short period of time. This article will help women obtain this knowledge by explaining in detail the two main warning signs: abdominal pain and urinary incontinence.

Abdominal Pain

The first sign of ovarian cancer that you should look out for is abdominal pain. This is due to the ovarian tumors attacking the abdomen, resulting in fluid build-up that puts pressure on the nerves. Yet, the pain may not feel much different than what a woman gets if she has a tummy ache or even bad gas. So, the key is going to be how long the abdominal pain lasts. Tummy aches and gas usually don't last too long, especially when the source of what is causing the problem gets taken care of. The abdominal pain will be chronic and worsen over time. In the latter stages of ovarian cancer, the pain will be accompanied with abdominal girth and digestive problems.

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is also a very common symptom of ovarian cancer. This is when a woman has an abnormal urge to urinate more than normal. When she does go to the bathroom, she may or may not actually urinate. Sometimes a woman may even leak urine even if she has gone to the bathroom. Now, incontinence is a much more significant than abdominal pain, so it may prompt a woman to seek at least a check-up. However, even the gynecologist may not realise what the problem is. This is because urinary incontinence can be a symptom of other diseases, some of which aren't even serious. An example is a urinary tract infection, a condition that can easily be treated with antibiotics. Yet, if the urinary tract infection is really indicative of ovarian cancer, antibiotics will not get it to go away.

So, what does a woman do if she exhibits any of the early warning signs of ovarian cancer? She needs to go to the doctor and let them know she has concerns over whether or not her symptoms are a result of the condition. The doctor will evaluate whether or not she is at high risk for the disease. If she is the doctor will probably suggest ovarian cancer screening. If she isn't the doctor will probably wait to see if the symptoms progress before suggesting any official screening. The reason this is the case is because women who are not at high risk for ovarian cancer tend to get misdiagnosed when they get ovarian cancer screening. Doctors want to avoid the possibility of a woman getting unnecessary ovarian cancer treatment.