7 EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF OVARIAN CANCER

Ovarian cancer is often called "The Silent Killer" because the symptoms are so nonspecific and are often blamed on something else. Thus it is possible to have been experiencing early warning signs of this disease for years and not realize anything is seriously wrong. This is very understandable, as the symptoms, if they are seen at all, most often seem benign at first. However, if you have had one or more of these symptoms for several weeks or months, please consider calling your physician and scheduling a check-up. Cancer is a scary word and most people would prefer to just assume everything is fine and hope whatever is bothering them simply "goes away." However, consider that ovarian cancer statistics show that 70% to 80% of diagnoses are made in late stages when the prognosis is not so good. To give yourself the best chance at long-term survival and even a complete cure, these are 7 of the symptoms to watch out for:

1. Persistent indigestion.

2. Bloating, feeling of fullness, tightness of clothes.

3. Painful intercourse, or dyspareunia.

4. Pelvic discomfort or pain.

5. Unexplained weight loss or weight gain.

6. Leg pain.

7. Change in character of menstrual periods.

Clearly, some or even most of these symptoms are common enough and could be problematic for women on occasion and most of the time it really is just overindulgence at the local Mexican eatery, too much Turkey dinner, that time of the month, or a strained leg muscle. However, if you experience any of these symptoms consistently on a regular basis it is possible they could be early warning signs of ovarian cancer so have your doctor check you out for peace of mind. Remember, your best chance is an early diagnosis.