7 early symptoms of ovarian cancer in women
PT Health Life – Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers in women. This disease progresses silently and quietly, with no obvious symptoms.
1. Types of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a condition in which malignant tumors form in one or both ovaries due to abnormal growth of cells inside. If not treated promptly, cancer cells will invade surrounding tissues and organs, causing loss of hormone production, egg cell production, and pregnancy function of the ovaries. In severe stages, cancer cells metastasize through the blood or lymph to many other organs of the body and form new tumors.
Ovarian cancer can occur in different locations of the ovary. There are 3 common types of ovarian cancer:
- Ovarian carcinoma: accounts for 80-90%.
- Germ cell cancer: accounts for 5-10%.
- Cancer of genital stromal origin: more rare.
Among them, ovarian carcinoma is one of the most common gynecological cancers in postmenopausal women. This type of cancer has few symptoms in the early stages, most cases are only diagnosed when the cancer is in an advanced stage, with poor treatment prospects.
Germ cell cancer is common in young women, most commonly in women in their 20s. Germ cell cancer tends to grow quickly but is easy to treat. Most cases are detected early, cancer is highly sensitive to chemical treatment, so there is a high cure rate and very good prognosis.

Ovarian stromal cell cancer is rare and grows slowly. The symptoms of this type of cancer are quite noticeable, so it is more likely to be diagnosed in the early stages, and the outlook for treatment is usually good.
2. Stages of development of ovarian cancer
Stage 1: The tumor is still inside the ovaries or fallopian tubes, and has not spread to other organs.
Stage 2: The tumor is still in the ovaries and fallopian tubes but has begun to spread to nearby organs in the pelvis.
Stage 3: The tumor has spread further, larger than 2cm, and may have even metastasized to distant organs such as the liver or spleen.
Stage 4: The final stage, the cancer has spread to many other organs such as the spleen, liver, lungs, brain… as well as lymph nodes in the groin. Treatment of the disease at this stage is very difficult and complicated.
3. Initial manifestations of ovarian cancer
In fact, we often ignore or misunderstand the signs of ovarian cancer as symptoms of other mild diseases. Always pay attention and be alert when you notice the following signs because they could very well be early symptoms of ovarian cancer:

- Feeling of discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen
- Digestive disorders such as nausea, diarrhea or constipation
- Frequent urination due to increased pressure on the bladder
- Poor appetite, feeling full even after a light meal
- Unexplained weight gain or loss.
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause, unusual changes in the menstrual cycle.
- Pain during sex.
4. Diagnosis of ovarian cancer
To detect the disease early, in addition to clinical manifestations, doctors prescribe the following specialized tests to have an appropriate treatment plan.
- Vaginal ultrasound has high value in diagnosing pelvic tumors
- Gastric endoscopy, colorectal endoscopy (When there is suspicion of ovarian cancer metastasizing from the digestive tract)
- CT Scan, MRI, PET CT are performed when clinically indicated
MRI or CT scan: An MRI or CT scan will show images taken at angles so doctors can diagnose the extent of the tumor in the ovary.
Doctors may also conduct tests on tissue samples to see how the entire tumor is growing, thereby providing more appropriate treatment.
5. Ovarian cancer treatment methods
Depending on the progression of the disease and the patient’s health condition, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment methods. Ovarian cancer is usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
In addition to treatment according to the doctor’s regimen, patients need to:
- Re-examination on time.
- Follow your doctor’s orders. Do not arbitrarily take medication that is not prescribed or skip prescription medication.
- Eat healthy, eat lots of vegetables, fruits, grains, reduce fat, limit alcohol and stimulants.
- Maintain ideal weight, exercise regularly.
- Tell your doctor immediately if side effects of the drug appear.
Summary: Ovarian cancer is a dangerous disease. If not detected and treated promptly, it can lead to death. Therefore, to detect and get timely treatment, you should pay attention to your health and have a regular health check every 6 months.