September marks Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and it deserves your full attention. Ovarian cancer symptoms are notoriously easy to miss. They mimic everyday complaints like bloating, a stomachache, or simple fatigue, which is exactly why doctors sometimes call this disease the silent one.
At Memorial Health System, our Women’s Health team wants you to leave this September with more than a ribbon pin. We want you to know the ovarian cancer symptoms your body might already be signaling. We also want you to understand the risk factors worth discussing with your doctor and the simple steps that lead to an earlier diagnosis. Awareness only works when it turns into action.
Why Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Are So Easy to Miss
Ovarian cancer does not come with an obvious warning sign like a lump you can feel or a mole that changes shape. Instead, it produces symptoms that overlap with digestion issues, stress, or normal hormone shifts. That overlap is a major reason so many cases are not caught until later stages.
The numbers show why this matters. The American Cancer Society estimates about 21,010 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and about 12,450 will die from the disease. A woman’s lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer is about 1 in 91. Roughly half of all diagnoses happen in women 63 or older, though the disease can strike at any age.
There is good news too. Ovarian cancer death rates have dropped 45 percent since 1976, thanks largely to better treatment and growing awareness. That progress is exactly why paying attention now matters so much.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms to Watch For
Your body usually offers clues before a diagnosis. The key is noticing when something feels different from your normal, especially if it lingers. Talk to your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms more than 12 times a month:
- Persistent bloating or a swollen abdomen
- Pelvic or abdominal pain that will not go away
- Feeling full quickly, even after a small meal
- Needing to urinate more often or more urgently
- Fatigue that rest does not fix
- Lower back pain or pain during intercourse
- Changes in your menstrual cycle
- Unexplained weight loss along with abdominal swelling
None of these symptoms guarantee ovarian cancer. Most have far more common causes. But when they show up together, stick around for weeks, or feel different from your usual pattern, they deserve a conversation with your doctor.
Know Your Risk Factors
Certain factors raise your risk of ovarian cancer. Having one, or even several, does not mean you will develop the disease. Still, understanding your own risk profile helps you and your doctor decide how closely to monitor your health.
- Age, especially after menopause
- Inherited gene mutations such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or Lynch syndrome
- Starting your period before age 12 or reaching menopause after 52
- Never carrying a pregnancy to full term
- A personal history of endometriosis
- A family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer
On the flip side, using birth control pills for five or more years, breastfeeding, and having children before age 26 are all linked to lower risk.
Simple Steps You Can Take This September
Small actions add up. Here is where to start:
- Schedule your annual well-woman visit if you have not already
- Write down any symptoms you notice, including how often they happen
- Ask about your family’s cancer history at your next appointment
- Request genetic counseling if ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer runs in your family
- Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, do not wait it out
Your Health Deserves a Closer Look
Ovarian cancer symptoms rarely announce themselves loudly. That is exactly why Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month exists, to remind every woman to listen to her body and speak up when something feels off. Early detection remains one of the strongest tools against this disease, and it starts with a conversation, not a diagnosis.
Memorial Health System’s Women’s Health team is here to listen, answer your questions, and help build a care plan around your life and your risk factors. If you have noticed changes in your body, or it has simply been a while since your last well-woman visit, now is a good time to schedule one.
Call our Women’s Health team at 580.353.6790 to schedule your appointment today.
Resources:
American Cancer Society – Key Statistics for Ovarian Cancer
American Cancer Society – Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
American Cancer Society – Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors
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