The American Cancer Society lists ovarian cancer as the 8th most common type of cancer in women in the United States. This list excludes non-melanoma skin cancers. While it is the 8th most common type of cancer in women, it is the 5th most common cause of cancer deaths.
Every year there are over 22000 women in the United States who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and of those about 14000 will die. The 5 year survival rate for women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer is just 46 percent. However, if diagnosis of ovarian cancer is made early, the 5 year survival rate is 94 percent.
It is for this reason that it is important to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer so that diagnosis can be made early. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of ovarian cancer are difficult to detect and some women do not experience any symptoms at all until the later stages of the disease.
Here are 15 symptoms of ovarian cancer that every woman should be aware of. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it does not necessarily mean that you have ovarian cancer, but the symptoms are signs that this could be the issue and you should discuss this with your doctor.
1. Pelvis Pain
The pelvis area is located at the hips. The pelvis rests on the legs and supports the spine. In addition, the pelvis may refer to the cavity located inside of the bones or the lower area of the trunk of your body.
Pelvic pain is pain that is located in the lower portion of the abdomen or the area below the belly button. This area is where the uterus is located in women and if you are having pain in this area it
could be a symptom of ovarian cancer or some other type of health issue.
