What are the symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer presents with a variety of symptoms and early warning signs that are often subtle in the initial stages. The main manifestations can be summarized as follows: 1. **Abdominal pain and discomfort**: Patients with ovarian cancer may experience abdominal or lower abdominal discomfort or pain. This is usually caused by tumor pressure or infiltration of surrounding tissues and may present as a dull ache or, in severe cases, intense pain. 2. **Menstrual changes**: Some patients may develop oligomenorrhea (reduced menstrual flow) or amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), typically due to the destruction of normal ovarian tissue by cancer cells. 3. **Abdominal distension**: Bloating is a common early sign of ovarian cancer and may occur even before a lower abdominal mass can be detected. This may be related to tumor pressure on ligaments within the abdominal cavity or the presence of ascites (fluid accumulation). 4. **Compression symptoms**: As the tumor grows, it may compress surrounding organs such as the bladder and rectum, leading to symptoms including frequent or urgent urination and difficulty with bowel movements. Please note that these symptoms and warning signs are not unique to ovarian cancer. If you have any concerns, seek timely medical evaluation and professional diagnostic assessment.