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Nine Symptoms Of The 'silent Killer' Women Shouldn't Ignore
In the UK, roughly 7,000 women are annually diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and two-thirds are detected at advanced stages, making treatment more challenging. Ovarian cancer, often dubbed the "silent killer", is notorious for presenting warning signs only when it has advanced to a largely incurable stage.
Target Ovarian Cancer claims that 44 percent of GPs wrongly assume symptoms emerge solely in the latter stages of the illness. Dr Frankie Jackson-Spencer highlighted: "Ovarian cancer often goes undiagnosed until it reaches the late stage due to its symptoms being vague and often overlapping with common/less serious conditions."
If diagnosed at the earliest stage, nine in 10 women will survive - making symptom awareness front and centre. The NHS identifies common symptoms such as bloating and a swollen abdomen, indicative of ovarian cancer.
Dr Jackson-Spencer further cautions about nine signs to watch for, including "loss of appetite" and/or "abdominal pain", reports the Mirror. Other potential indicators comprise abnormal vaginal bleeding, inexplicable fatigue, and a constant need to urinate.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer could include:Just one in five women in the UK are aware that bloating is a primary symptom of ovarian cancer, as pointed out by Target Ovarian Cancer. Dr Jackson-Spencer emphasised: "Unlike cervical and breast cancer there aren't robust screening tests for ovarian cancer," adding the necessity of seeking medical advice for any symptoms.
"So it's important to get any symptoms checked out by a doctor. Your GP might want to do a blood test, internal examination or refer you for an ultrasound scan."
To underline the importance of early detection, the women's health expert noted: "If caught early, ovarian cancer can be less serious, that's why it's super important to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible."
What is the cause of ovarian cancer?Dr Jackson-Spencer has put forward that while "there isn't an exact cause of ovarian cancer", there exists a "few factors" that can heighten one's chances of getting the illness. She underlined that women over 65 are at an increased risk, with half of the diagnosed cases afflicting this demographic.
Moreover, she underscored the role of genetics, explaining: "Approximately five to 10 percent of cases of ovarian cancer are thought to be hereditary." The specialist also noted that women who have an early onset of menstruation or a later menopause could face a greater probability of developing ovarian cancer.
She said: "The increase in the number of times you ovulate creates more opportunities for cancerous cells to develop."
Furthermore, she highlighted that patients who have undergone radiotherapy treatment for other cancers, such as bowel cancer, might also be at increased risk.
For additional details or support regarding ovarian cancer, individuals can reach out to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Can Cancer Spread Without Symptoms? 5 Deadly Cancers That Develop Silently
Some devastating cancer diagnoses come too late in the day. There are times when patients are left shocked and helpless by a late-stage cancer diagnosis, as they never saw it coming. There are a range of cancers that are considered asymptomatic in their early stages. Small, insignificant tumours often go unnoticed during self examination or certain imaging tests. The symptoms start to appear only when the cancerous tumour or mass grows large enough to start fiddling with nearby organs, tissues or nerves. In case of certain cancers like prostate cancer, the tumour growth is too slow to be detected early.It is advised that one who has high risk factors for cancer like advanced age, family history, own medical history, must undergo regular screening of certain deadly cancers.1. Ovarian cancer It is one of the top silent killer for women because of its often vague and confused with symptoms of other diseases, it can be difficult to diagnose in early stages where it can be treated efficiently. Digestive issues, pelvic discomfort, or changes in appetite are some of the earlier symptoms that people may confuse with other health issues. One of the reasons why it silently spreads is due to its location.A study published in Nature Communications reveals that the majority of genetic alterations found in high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOC) may originate years earlier in the fallopian tubes instead of ovaries, which can make it difficult to detect.
2. Cervical cancer Another asymptomatic cancer that people discover at an advanced stage is cervical cancer. While it is the fourth most common cancer in women, it's early symptoms aren't easily detectable. A longer or heavier menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, or vaginal bleeding after menopause can be some of the changes one may notice. The symptoms usually appear when the disease has advanced.In a classic example of cervical cancer being a silent killer, a case study published in the Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics details a rare case of stage IV cervical cancer that showed no typical signs like vaginal bleeding or discharge. The patient only had abdominal pain and frequent urination for five days.Regular screening and HPV vaccination are key to catching it early and avoid deterioration.
3. Testicular cancer The most common cancer affecting men in the age group of 15 to 35 could be extremely dangerous due to its sneaky nature. A painless lump may develop in tissues of one or both testicle or a swelling can be seen. Some men may feel heaviness, pain, or discomfort in the scrotum.Testicular cancer symptoms are easy to miss and this can lead to its silent progression over years. Some testicular cancers can be aggressive too, and can affect young - late teens, or men in 20s or 30s. These are called non-seminoma tumors. Seminoma on the other hand are slow tumours that are seen in people in their 40s and 50s.
4. Kidney cancer Often called a silent killer, kidney cancer can grow unnoticed for years because it rarely causes symptoms in its early stages. When signs do appear, such as blood in the urine, persistent back or side pain, or an unexplained lump, they are often mistaken for less serious issues. This delayed detection can lead to diagnosis at an advanced stage. Kidney cancer is more common in people over 50, but lifestyle factors like smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure can increase risk. Regular check-ups and imaging, especially for high-risk individuals, are key to catching it early.
5. Lung cancer People with lung cancer may not have symptoms in the early stages because there are very few nerve endings in the lungs, and a tumor could grow without causing pain or discomfort, as per American Lung Association. In the case of lung cancer, even after the symptom onset, many people may receive diagnosis such as pneumonia, allergies or a cold. If a cough doesn't resolve on its own, there is persistent hoarseness in voice, unusual fatigue, unexplained weight loss, coughing up blood, or respiratory infections, it could indicate lung cancer.
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EHR-Based Symptom Inventory Shows Potential For Ovarian Cancer Monitoring
The electronic health record (EHR)–based symptom inventory identified symptom prevalence and associated comorbidities, but no ovarian cancers were diagnosed during the study period.
Although implementing an ovarian cancer symptom inventory through the electronic health record (EHR) is feasible, its effectiveness may be influenced by the prevalence of preexisting diagnoses, according to a study published in Gynecologic Oncology Reports.1
Ovarian cancer continues to have the highest incidence-fatality rate of any gynecologic malignancy, primarily due to most diagnoses occurring after metastasis.2 No screening tool is sensitive and specific enough for widespread use, which limits early detection, particularly in low-risk women.1
Despite this, 75% to 90% of patients with early-stage ovarian cancer report symptoms before diagnosis, most commonly bloating, eating problems, abdominal pain, and trouble with urination. While symptom inventories have been piloted in clinics to assess their role in reducing false positives, they have not been tested electronically among average-risk populations.
To address this gap, the researchers evaluated the uptake and feasibility of an EHR-based symptom inventory administered during annual or new patient visits at a generalist obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) faculty practice in Colorado. They also assessed its utility as part of routine care.
The electronic health record (EHR)–based symptom inventory identified symptom prevalence and associated comorbidities, but no ovarian cancers were diagnosed during the study period.Image Credit: terovesalainen - stock.Adobe.Com
Beginning in February 2021, the symptom survey was introduced to patients 40 years and older who were scheduled for an annual or new ob-gyn patient visit via the patient-facing EHR portal. Previously, the researchers highlighted that the patient-facing EHR portal successfully improved screening rates for colorectal and lung cancers.
The questionnaire asked if the patient experienced any of the following symptoms for more than 2 weeks in the prior year: abdominal bloating; pelvic or abdominal pain; urination urgency or frequency; and/or feeling full soon after eating or difficulty eating. The researchers noted that a fifth response, "no symptoms," was added in September 2021.
To analyze the feasibility of survey implementation and patient uptake, they evaluated all instances of the questionnaire assigned between February 2021 and July 2023. Additionally, because the survey did not include a "no symptoms" option until September 2021, the data collected before then were excluded from analyses evaluating the prevalence of symptoms and the association between symptoms and medical history.
Consequently, unique patients who completed the questionnaire between September 2021 and July 2023 were included for analysis to study the results of the symptom inventory. Because the questionnaire could be triggered multiple times, the researchers selected the first patient encounter for analysis among those who responded more than once during the study period.
The survey was expected to have been triggered 2301 times during the study period, with 846 completed (minimum response rate, 36.8%) by 715 patients between February 2021 and July 2023. The median age of these patients was 50 years (range, 40-86), and most were White (72.0%).
Of the 589 patients included in the symptom prevalence analysis, 164 (27.8%) reported experiencing at least 1 symptom associated with ovarian cancer in the prior year. Among these patients, most reported experiencing only 1 symptom (n = 107; 65.2%), while 9 (5.5%) reported experiencing all 4 symptoms. The most reported symptom was urinary urgency or frequency (n = 88; 14.9%), and the least reported was early satiety or difficulty eating (n = 33; 5.6%).
Patients who reported at least 1 symptom were more likely than those with no symptoms to have a history of medical comorbidities, including depression (37.8% vs 24.9%; P = .002), endometriosis (8.5% vs 3.8%; P = .034), uterine fibroids (31.7% vs 20.2%; P = .005), and irritable bowel syndrome (11.6% vs 3.8%; P < .001). Also, of those who reported symptoms, 76 (46.3%) underwent some workup within 3 months of their visit, but no ovarian cancers have been diagnosed to date.
The researchers acknowledged their study's limitations, including potential response bias; patients without symptoms may be less likely to complete the survey. Despite their limitations, they expressed confidence in their findings and emphasized the need for further research.
"The effectiveness of an [EHR]-based symptom inventory pre-screen as a selection criterion for early detection requires further study, and assessment of frequency and duration of symptoms should be considered."
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