What are the general symptoms of women suffering from ovarian cancer ?”
General information about symptoms of Ovarian Cancer: The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. This symptom information has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. Furthermore, symptoms of Ovarian Cancer may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of symptoms and whether they are indeed symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. List of symptoms of Ovarian Cancer: The list of symptoms mentioned in various sources for Ovarian Cancer includes: * No early symptoms – there are no major symptoms until late in development * Vague symptoms * Abdominal symptoms – often from the spread of ovarian cancer to abdominal areas o Abdominal swelling o Abdominal bloating o Abdominal discomfort o Abdominal pain o Early satiety o Indigestion o Abdominal mass o Ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity) * Nausea * Diarrhe
A drug developed by British scientists could offer fresh hope to women with ovarian cancer. The deadliest gynaecological cancer, ovarian cancer affects almost 7,000 British women a year – and kills two thirds. Dubbed ‘the silent killer’, it is symptomless in the early stages and so not usually diagnosed until it is too late. No new drugs to combat the disease have been introduced for more than a decade. The new treatment, which could be available in just five years, works in a similar way to the breast cancer ‘wonder drug’ Herceptin. Doctors gave the drug, known only as CNTO328, to 18 ovarian cancer patients from north-east London and Essex in a trial that started in late 2007. None had been expected to live more than a year because their cancer had returned despite several courses of chemotherapy. Eight found their tumours stabilised or stopped growing – likely extending their life expectancy. While the figure may seem small, it is much higher than the five to 20 per cent response rat
Ovarian cancer causes non-specific symptoms, which contribute to diagnostic delay, resulting in a late stage and a poor prognosis. Most women with ovarian cancer report one or more symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort, an abdominal mass, bloating, back pain, urinary urgency, constipation, tiredness and a range of other non-specific symptoms, as well as more specific symptoms such as pelvic pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding or involuntary weight loss. There can be a build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity (this is called ascites).
