Usually, ovarian cancer is not detected until the malignancy spreads to the abdomen and pelvis. At that stage, the disease is tough to treat. Therefore, knowing the early signs and diagnosis of ovarian cancer will enable one to seek medical intervention before it is too late. However, it is prudent to realize that early signs of ovarian cancer are vague and that is why many women ignore them.

The main signs of ovarian cancer are

Bloating of the Abdomen
One may feel that their abdomen is bloated or swollen. And they may experience fullness after consuming just a little bit of food.

Unexplained Weight Loss
If one is not trying to lose weight, but it still happens, it could be a sign of ovarian cancer. However, this is a vague symptom and can be due to some other health-related issues.

Discomfort in the Pelvic Region
One may experience discomfort or nagging pain in the pelvis. This again is not a definitive sign of ovarian cancer as many other conditions also exhibit the same symptom.

Changes in Bowel Movements
Sudden changes in bowel habits should be a cause for concern. The onset of sudden constipation or diarrhea is indicative of ovarian cancer.

Frequent Urge to Urinate
One may experience a constant need to urinate. And they may even not end up urinating when they go. This is an alarming concern and must be checked immediately.

The main diagnoses of ovarian cancer are

Pelvic Examination
When one visits the doctor for early signs and diagnosis of ovarian cancer, one of the first diagnostic tests that the doctor will perform is an examination of the pelvis. This involves visual examination of the genitalia and inserting fingers into the vagina, and at the same time, gently pressing the abdomen to feel the organs in the pelvic region.

Imaging Tests
If the doctor suspects ovarian cancer based on the symptoms and physical examination, they will recommend imaging tests, such as CT scan and ultrasound, to check the shape and size of the ovaries.

Blood Test
One may also have to take blood tests that provide a clearer picture of overall health and possibly ovarian cancer. Complete blood count (CBC) provides the doctor with WBC and RBC count while an organ function test helps the doctor determine whether the reproductive organs are working optimally.

Tumor Marker Test
The doctor will ask for a test for tumor markers, such as cancer antigen 125. If the markers are present, it will come out in the test. The presence of tumor markers indicates that there is a high probability that one may have ovarian cancer.

Based on these early signs and diagnosis of ovarian cancer, the doctor will stage the cancer. The staging runs from stage I to stage IV. The lower the stage, the better the prognosis as it means that the cancer is restricted to the ovaries and has not spread to other parts of the body.