Ovarian Cancer: 4 Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells divide rapidly in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or peritoneum of a woman’s body and is difficult to constrain. There are four types of ovarian cancer, epithelial, germ cell, stromal, and primary peritoneal.⁷ The type depends on where it begins. Epithelial ovarian cancer starts in the epithelial tissue and is found in either the ovary or fallopian tube. This is where about 90% of ovarian cancers begin.⁷ Germ cell ovarian cancer are known to originate in the cells that produce eggs. This type of cancer makes up around 5% of those diagnosed. Stromal ovarian cancer forms in the connective tissue of the ovary and accounts for another 5% of ovarian cancer diagnoses.⁷ Primary peritoneal ovarian cancer which begins in the pelvic/abdominal lining  is rare according to UT MD Anderson. However, unlike the other types, women remain susceptible to this form of cancer even when the ovaries have been removed. 

Why Is Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer Important?

Ovarian cancer is known as “the silent killer” and is the deadliest of gynecologic cancers according to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.⁸ In 2026, it is estimated that there will be 21,010 new cases diagnosed and 12,450 deaths from ovarian cancer according to the National Cancer Institute SEER data.⁵ The survival rate is dependent upon the stage of the disease at diagnosis. According to Tavares et al, “ovarian cancer (OC) is the female genital malignancy with the highest lethality.”¹⁰ Ovarian cancer has a lower survival rate than other cancers affecting women with about 52% of women surviving 5 years after diagnosis.⁵ Koutras et al explains that the 5-year survival rate reaches 70-80% in cases that are diagnosed early but dramatically decreases to 20-25% in cases where the disease has been diagnosed at advanced stages.³ The reason behind this and why it is considered to be “the silent killer” is multifold. In some cases, “patients present a poor prognosis mainly due to the late clinical presentation allied with the common acquisition of chemoresistance and a high rate of tumour recurrence.”¹⁰ In other cases, symptoms often go unnoticed and/or are misdiagnosed. Additionally, there are currently no reliable, effective screening tests to determine the presence of the disease.¹  This is a reason why there is no recommended routine ovarian cancer screening.

Who Is at Risk for Ovarian Cancer?

According to the Amercian Cancer Society, women who are over 40 and those with inherited genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2, Lynch Syndrome) are at greater risk for developing ovarian cancer.⁷ Some additional factors like the early onset of menstrual cycles (e.g., prior to age 12), menopause onset after age 52, no history of giving birth, endometriosis, and pelvic radiation can each increase an individual’s chances of developing ovarian cancer.⁷ 

4 Ovarian Cancer Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

As mentioned previously, the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be difficult to recognize and make early diagnosis challenging. They tend to be those that go unnoticed and are easily attributable to other conditions, which is why many of the cases are detected in more advanced stages, where it is more difficult to treat.  That being said, there are four signs that women should not ignore and may warrant at least a discussion with your doctor.  Ovarian Cancer Action identifies the signs and symptoms and describes what to look for:⁹

1. Bloating. Do not dismiss persistent bloating or bloating that lasts beyond the time following a meal or during a menstrual cycle. This may feel like having a tight,  swollen abdomen that does not completely go away. Something as simple as your clothing not fitting around your waist as they normally would, is often experienced by someone experiencing bloating and is something many of us dismiss but should pay attention to.
2. Pelvic/abdominal pain. Pay attention to any ongoing aches, pains, or pressure in the lower abdominal, back or pelvic area that are new or unusual. Ovarian cancer can cause inflammation or pressure in this area and lead to persistent discomfort.
3. Trouble eating. Feeling full after eating just a few bites of food or experiencing trouble consuming food is another key sign that is often related to ovarian cancer.
4. Urinary frequency/urgency. Often with ovarian cancer there is increased urgency and frequency to empty your bladder. It is important to have it evaluated, as it is often assumed to be associated with aging and other conditions, but it could also be the result of a tumor pressing against the bladder leading to a change in its functions.

Why Is Ovarian Cancer Difficult to Detect Early?

We know that survival is tied to early detection, meaning that when ovarian cancer is detected early, the chances for survival and successful treatments are greater. As strides have been made in increasing ovarian cancer awareness, early detection continues to face challenges that prevent early diagnoses. Koutras et al points out that “due to the fact that it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, recurrence rates are rather high and ovarian cancer remains the most lethal form of female gynecologic cancer.”³ One significant challenge to early detection is the presence of vague symptoms that can be confusing to patients and doctors. This leads to delays in appropriate early diagnosis. Another challenge to early detection is the lack of standardized screening tools. According to Koutras et al, there is a pressing need for novel diagnostic tools, particularly those that can detect the disease at its initial stages.³ Limited funding for women’s health research also poses a challenge to early detection, as it prevents the identification and development of new diagnostic and screening tools.⁴  Due to the lack of reliable screening and diagnostic tools, routine ovarian cancer screening is not recommended. In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against screening for ovarian cancer in women.² In the most recent review in 2018, the task force upheld the recommendation against ovarian cancer screening. 

What Can Be Done to Address the Early Detection Challenges?

At this time, there is no single solution to address the challenges that exist that prevent early ovarian cancer detection. This does not mean that nothing can be done, quite the contrary. Increases in advocacy efforts could help increase positive health outcomes (e.g., early diagnoses, improved survival rates)when it comes to ovarian cancer.⁴ More advocacy helps to increase symptom awareness so that women identify potential signs and symptoms sooner and seek care earlier. Second, delivering more ovarian cancer education for providers can be beneficial in helping them to identify ovarian cancer sooner. Lastly, allocating and distributing more funding and support to develop new cutting edge treatments would help to develop more sensitive and specific screening tests to identify the presence of ovarian cancer in its early stages.⁴

Ovarian cancer does not have to remain the most lethal gynecologic cancer. Ensuring that individuals and their doctors know what to look for when it comes to early detection is key in winning the battle against ovarian cancer. Know the signs, don’t wait, talk to your doctor, then take the appropriate next steps. 

Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate.

References

1. About Ovarian Cancer. National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Updated July 23, 2026. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://ovarian.org/about-ovarian-cancer/
2. Henderson JT, Webber EM, Sawaya GF. Screening for Ovarian Cancer: An Updated Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2018 Feb. (Evidence Synthesis, No. 157.) Chapter 1, Introduction. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK4934
3. Koutras A, Perros P, Prokopakis I, et al. Advantages and Limitations of Ultrasound as a Screening Test for Ovarian Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023;13(12):2078. Published 2023 Jun 15. doi:10.3390/diagnostics13122078
4. Kreimer S. We Need More Advocacy: Tackling the Biggest Challenges in Ovarian Cancer Care. Oncology News Central. Updated January 23, 2026. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://www.oncologynewscentral.com/ovarian-cancer/tackling-the-biggest-challenges-in-ovarian-cancer-care
5. National Cancer Institute Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program. Cancer Stat Facts: Ovarian Cancer. Accessed on September 10, 2026. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.html
6. Ovarian Cancer. UT MD Anderson. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer.html
7. Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors. American Cancer Society. Updated August 25, 2025. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
8. Ovarian Cancer Statistics. Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://ocrahope.org/for-patients/gynecologic-cancers/ovarian-cancer/ovarian-cancer-statistics/
9. Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. Ovarian Cancer Action. Accessed September 11, 2026.  https://ovarian.org.uk/ovarian-cancer/ovarian-cancer-symptoms/
10. Tavares V, Marques IS, Melo IG, Assis J, Pereira D, Medeiros R. Paradigm Shift: A Comprehensive Review of Ovarian Cancer Management in an Era of Advancements. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(3):1845. Published 2024 Feb 3. doi:10.3390/ijms25031845