The early stages of ovarian cancer are challenging to diagnose. There is no accurate diagnostic test for early diagnosis, and symptoms are vague and easily confused with gastrointestinal problems such as constipation and bloating.
However, this does not mean that women are powerless. Knowing the symptoms and risks of ovarian cancer is the best defense against the disease.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer
Pelvic exams are important to women’s health, but unfortunately, most ovarian tumors are difficult to diagnose. Health care providers screen for cervical cancer, such as Pap and HPV (human papillomavirus), but do not diagnose cervical cancer. In most cases, a woman’s ultrasound or CT scan will show ovarian cancer. All this means that the disease is often late, when the cancer is advanced and can spread to other parts of the body.