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Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer often causes vague but persistent symptoms, such as bloating, feeling full quickly, abdominal or pelvic pain and needing to urinate more often. These symptoms usually have another cause, but new symptoms that recur frequently deserve investigation. Diagnosis and treatment belong with a specialist team.

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  • Ovarian cancer may cause few specific symptoms for a long time; notice what is new, persistent and different from normal.
  • Common signs are bloating, feeling full quickly, abdominal or pelvic pain and needing to urinate more often.
  • These symptoms often have benign causes but deserve investigation if they recur frequently or increase.
  • Ultrasound or a tumour marker alone cannot confirm or rule out cancer with certainty.
  • Treatment and genetic testing are tailored to tumour type, stage, health and personal wishes.

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