Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Bowel Symptoms

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of gynecological cancer there is, in part because its symptoms often mask those of other diseases and disorders. Approximately 1 in 57 women in the United States will receive the news that they have ovarian cancer each year, according to wrongdiagnosis.com. It used to be called "the silent killer," but when the disease is caught early, it has a 95% cure rate.

Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

• The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are indigestion, nausea, and changes in bowel habits. Other symptoms include pelvic or abdominal pain, pressure, swelling, discomfort, or gastrointestinal issues that are vague but persistent, including the three most common symptoms and gas. You might also experience a frequent or urgent need to urinate; unexplained weight gain or weight loss, particularly in the abdominal area; pain during sexual intercourse; and unexplained vaginal bleeding. Someone suffering from ovarian cancer might feel full all the time, or have difficulty eating. In addition, you might have ongoing fatigue and leg pain.

Misdiagnosis Statistics

• Cancer.org reports that 30 percent of women received treatment for a condition other than ovarian cancer before they were properly diagnosed. Only one-fifth received the news that they had cancer on their first doctor visit. Similarly, one-third of women diagnosed with cancer had to visit three or more healthcare providers before receiving a correct diagnosis, and they did not feel that their concerns were taken seriously enough.

Discerning the Difference Between Ovarian Cancer and Minor Stomach Upset

• Of the 30 percent of women who received treatment for a condition other than ovarian cancer, many were told that their symptoms were the result of minor afflictions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stress, gastritis, depression, constipation or nothing at all. Because these conditions were deemed minor, healthcare providers decided that further exploration was not necessary.

Risk Factors

• Women who are more at risk of developing ovarian cancer may have a family history of the disease, particularly if the person who had it was a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter), or a second-degree relative (aunts or grandmothers).

  Women over the age of 50 are more at risk than younger women.

  A woman's menstrual and pregnancy history also impacts her chances of developing ovarian cancer. Women who got their menstrual period before the age of 12, and/or experienced menopause after the age of 50 are at higher risk, as are women who had their first child after the age of 30. Women who have never been pregnant are more likely to develop cancer, as are mothers who chose not to breastfeed their children. Research has shown that women who take or have taken birth control pills are 40 percent to 50 percent less likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

When to See a Doctor

• If you have pain, pressure, swelling or bloating in the pelvic area that lasts for more than a few weeks, or irregular vaginal bleeding, it is advisable that you see a doctor. If you have a family history of cancer, particularly ovarian cancer, it is important to take your symptoms very seriously. All women over the age of 18 should have yearly pelvic exams and regular rectal exams.