Period Bloating or Something More? Know the Early Signs of Ovarian Cancer

Many women experience bloating, cramping, or abdominal pain around their menstrual cycle. These symptoms are usually brushed off as normal just something you go through as a woman. But what if that bloating is there longer than it should be, gets terribly painful, or comes and goes for no explainable reason? Could it be something serious?

A condition that can often seem like normal menstrual symptoms may be ovarian cancer; a dreaded condition called the silent killer because its early symptoms are vague and easy to ignore. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed early, the prognosis improves immensely. It is, therefore, particularly important that women listen to their bodies and recognize when something is just not right.

How Are Period Bloating and Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Different?

The bloating experienced during periods is usually temporary, owing to hormonal changes, and goes away within a few days at most. The bloating caused by ovarian cancer, on the other hand, is persistent and progressive. Women describe it as a feeling of fullness or swelling that does not go away, even after eating very little.

Here are some other subtle but important warning signs:

• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Feeling full quickly or difficulty eating
• Frequent urge to urinate or urinary urgency
• Change in bowel habits like constipation
• Menstrual irregularities
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue or back pain

These symptoms are often confused with gastrointestinal issues or hormonal imbalances. But when they persist beyond a few weeks especially in women over 40 they should not be ignored.

Who is at Risk?

Ovarian cancer does not always have obvious risk factors, but some women may be more vulnerable. A family history of ovarian or breast cancer or colorectal cancer, mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, endometriosis, or starting menstruation at a very young age are some of the known risk contributors. Women who have never been pregnant or who are undergoing hormone replacement therapy may also be at slightly higher risk. On the other hand, full term pregnancy and history of breast feeding have been known to reduce risk slightly.

It is important to note that ovarian cancer does not only affect postmenopausal women. While the risk increases with age, younger women even in their 20s and 30s can develop certain types of ovarian cancer. That is why awareness should start early.

Diagnosis: Trust Your Instincts

Since the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are usually vague, many women delay medical attention until the illness is advanced. This can result in late diagnosis when treatment is more difficult.

If you get a feeling that something is not right and have strange symptoms for longer than two or three weeks, go see your doctor. A physical exam, pelvic ultrasound, blood work (e.g., CA-125), or other imaging might be ordered to further explore.

Early treatment not only enhances results but can be lifesaving.

Prevention and Protection

Ovarian cancer cannot always be prevented, but some habits lower the risk:

• Medical supervision of oral contraceptive use has been associated with decreased risk for ovarian cancer.
• Annual gynaecological exams assist in monitoring alterations in reproductive health.
• Healthy weight, good diet, and physical exercise also have a protective effect.

Women with high-risk family history might be offered genetic counselling and BRCA testing. Precautionary surgery (ovarian or fallopian tube removal) can be considered in certain situations after careful assessment.

It's simple to brush off bloating, irregular periods, weight loss or fatigue particularly if life is hectic and symptoms feel insignificant. But our bodies do a good job of letting us know when something is amiss. The trick is not to ignore them.
Taking initiative with reproductive health and heeding the warning signs in your body is the initial step to early diagnosis. Bloating during periods may very well be just that but if it persists, don't delay. It may be the distinction between timely intervention and an advanced-stage diagnosis.

(Dr. Yogesh Kulkarni, Surgical Oncology, Head - Gynecologic Oncology, Robotic Surgeon, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai)