Ovarian Cancer: Warning Signs You Should Notice

NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar joins TODAY to mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month by explaining risk factors and warning signs to look out for, including bloating, pelvic pain or pressure, and abnormal vaginal bleeding.

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#Cancer #Ovariancancer #WomensHealth

[Queenmem]

Survivor here - I had it at 24 and was misdiagnosed for 2 years (IBS, etc). Finally a doctor LISTENED to me and ordered a CA-125 test (numbers off the charts) and a CT scan confirmed tumors on both ovaries. I was stage 3C.. It’s been 15 years since then and I’m doing fine. There is hope! Know your body and listen to the voice that tells you something isn’t right —even when no one else does.

[Serenity]

OKay, adding "ovarian cancer symptoms" to my list of anxiety.

[knoname]

Dear Scientist and researchers, We need a better way to test for ovarian, uterus and cervical

[emiroche]

I was 25 and had the symptoms, but Drs told me I was too young. When they finally ordered the scan the tumor was 13cm and in stage 1C. Now I’m almost done with chemotherapy and looking to a better future.

[nursepolymath]

I just don't understand why a transvaginal ultrasound can't be part of your annual gynecological exam or at least performed every 2-3 years depending on family history. It can detect abnormalities on the ovaries and in the pelvis early. Ovarian cancer is like #5 on the list of cancer in women. Why can't we just figure out best practices already. Because what's being done now isn't working.

[IdiotSandwich]

I had all those symptoms and was diagnosed last week with stage 2 ovarian cancer. It may seem hard to differentiate between these symptoms being cancer or something less bad, but maybe this will help: It's not normal bloating, it's heavy and strange, like being bloated with a solid instead of a gas. All these symptoms appear one after the other, and they stay and they get worse and worse very quickly, like a matter of 1 or 2 months. I went to the ER because the pain was so severe I couldn't sleep, I was eating one thing a day and then the vomiting started. Trust your body. Never hurts to get checked anyways!

[Sophia-zktw]

I just got done with ovarian cancer surgery and chemo I believe it was from using the estrogen patch for too long my dr did not monitor just kept filling the Rx ... and I used powder as well ...I also got a major blood infection from the port and was hospitalized...I have white knuckle it for 3 years now and now on the other side of that mountain ...I am doing everything in my power to stay healthy and balance physical mentally and spiritually I am 66 getting. Back to a good life again stay strong women

[TiemposDePaz]

Ladies, I admittely have mocked symptoms to get pelvic ultrasounds. If you feel you want an ultrasound, tell your doctor you are having intense pain in your pelvic region. They will indeed get you an ultrasound if you say you have these issues. I do it every few years.

[dp]

My college roommate passed away at 46 years old. She was misdiagnosed with IBS for a year and was stage 4 when it was finally directly diagnosed. Such a tragic loss of my dear friend. She had most all the symptoms. She was also adopted and found out later in life that her biological mother died of breast and ovarian. So important to check family history. Very informative- hope this helps to save more lives!

[vida]

Fishing up Chemo this week due to Ovarian Cancer !! I am 35, don’t let doctors tell you, you are to young for cancer. When something feels wrong, listen to your body. Thankfully, I was diagnosed at Stage 1, had surgery, chemo as reoccurrence prevention, and now showing no sign of the disease. Ask for CA 125 blood test. Couldn’t have made it through this without Jesus !! Also nausea is a symptom. The tumor I had was high grade (aggressive), so it blocked my urinary system, and was having hard time urinating (was being referred to a urologist). Until one day I couldn’t urinate at all and had to go to ER. After a urinary catheter and CAT scan, it was found. Only reason it was caught early!!

[heatherkaye]

In the United States women are treated like livestock in the medical world. If you want something done you need to request it. If your doctor doesn't listen to you, you need to get a different doctor. If your doctor tells you you're being dramatic, that's a bad doctor. Women, we MUST advocate for ourselves. Be that squeaky wheel in your doctor's office, it can save your life!

[MariaPerez-kikt]

Bloating and heartburn were my only symptoms, my Dr would encourage me to give up coffee and spicy food. This never worked. I ended up in the ER with lower abdominal pain and was ordered a CT scan with contrast. My diagnosis, stage 3 ovarian cancer at the age of 46!

[ErikaMartinez-odjr]

Sadly the symptoms are vague and there are no tests to catch it early.

[ramonagaerin]

We need earlier detection for cancers. Why are we waiting for 40 for a mammogram and 50 for a colonoscopy?

[ezura]

My grandma passed away from this and out of the risk factors listed here she only had one, old age. She was 76 when she passed, I was there when she took her last breath at home. I remember it happened very suddenly, one minute she was totally fine and then the next she was bedridden at home under hospice care.

[silentgirltears]

Can everyone who has been diagnosed please write down the symptoms they had in this thread below, how ever minor or little the symptoms were I think it will help everyone reading or even save a life, Thankyou

:-

[abbg]

Blessed to have my mom with me today she's a survivor of ovarian cancer and the dr caught in time she definitely looked bloated and couldn't even walk I was in elementary school when she got diagnosed but the dr caught on time it's one of the silence killer that many dk because it is hard to detect and honestly I would love to get tested for the brca test just to see but I at least know it's part of my family history

[Terry_Merry_Berry]

Too bad most of us don’t have health insurance or access to affordable healthcare, it’s the American dream

[waterwine]

I had a coworker who died at 38 in 2008 of ovarian cancer. She kept thinking she was having just increased problems with hemorrhoids. She had surgery to have them removed. She was still having problems. Turned out it was cancer. She also had lost about 10 pounds without knowing it. She just couldn’t eat as much. Then one day she got real bloated all of a sudden. After that she had to take a medical leave and within 3 or 4 months she was gone.

[buzzlightyearandco]

I know they keep saying it's rare among young women but the sheer amount of anecdotal accounts I've read about of women in their 20s and 30s getting it suggests it's definitely something younger women can be affected by too. Keep pushing your doctors to get the right diagnostic tests if you suspect something is up, no matter how old you are.