Symptoms Attributed to Ovarian Cancer by Women with the Disease

Ovarian cancer is more likely to be cured when diagnosed in the early stages, but the vagueness of presenting symptoms, which are easily attributed to benign conditions, is a major barrier to early diagnosis. The goal of this research was to further delineate these vague presenting symptoms. A convenience sample of 50 women aged 35 to 70 years who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer was obtained through the Internet. Data were obtained by means of a one-time questionnaire consisting of a symptom checklist, narrative descriptions of symptoms, and demographic questions. Overall, 94% (n = 47) of the participants reported experiencing at least one symptom prior to their ovarian cancer diagnosis. Six gastrointestinal symptoms were reported by greater than 50% of the sample. The mean number of symptoms per woman was 8.6 (SD = 4.3, range 1-190. The mean total number of symptoms reported by the women that they retrospectively attributed to cancer was 5.9 (SD = 4.5, range 0-16). Narratively, the women reported menstrual cycle changes most frequently (22% of the sample). This study highlights the need for education of health care professionals on the symptomatology of this disease. Education of women should focus on the known signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and what defines normal age-related physiologic changes.