10 things women over 40 should know about ovarian cancer

Do ovarian cancer symptoms come on suddenly? The answer is no. Women over 40 need to test for this type of cancer early because it is difficult to diagnose it at an early stage. Women should go for regular ovary test to know if their ovaries are working well. Being proactive about this health condition is one of the ways women over 40 can overcome this type of cancer.

Ovarian cancer is when abnormal cells in the ovary begin to multiply out of control and form a tumor. If left untreated, the tumor can spread to other parts of the body. Women after the age of 40 should take ovary test seriously because they are more prone to have the disease.

10 ovarian cancer symptoms 

According to www.healthline.com, the best way to help reduce the chances of developing this cancer is by taking a positive, proactive approach to the disease. It’s also easy to overlook the early symptoms because they are similar to other common illnesses or they tend to come and go.

These early symptoms include:

1. Abdominal bloating, pain or pressure
2. Difficulty eating
3. Fatigue
4. Increase in urination
5. Indigestion
6. Back Pain
7. Menstrual irregularities
8. Painful Intercourse
9. Heartburn
10. Dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory disease that can cause skin rash, muscle weakness, and inflamed muscles)

It is worthy to note that cancers are best treated when detected early. Please consult with your doctor if you experience new and unusual symptoms. The symptoms will persist if they are due to ovarian cancer. Symptoms usually become more severe as the tumor grows. By this time, the cancer has usually spread outside of the ovaries, making it much harder to treat effectively. Contact your doctor if you have one or more of these symptoms for a long period of time.

Risk factors

The risk factors that may make some people more likely to develop ovarian cancer than others include family history of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer, having the BRCA1 and BRAC2 gene, having Lynch syndrome, never being pregnant, obesity, some fertility and hormone medications, endometriosis and aging.