Before thinking about the stage 4 ovarian cancer symptoms, you should know that this is a condition in which the cells of the ovaries start an abnormal growth, resulting in a mass or tumor in one or both ovaries. This is known to be one of the most common types of cancer in case of women.
Information about the symptoms of stage 4 ovarian cancer
You should know that at the early stages the condition doesn’t really cause any specific symptoms. The symptoms of the later stages mimic the symptoms of other conditions such as bladder and digestive disorders. It happens quite often that a woman with ovarian cancer is diagnosed with having something else first.
What to know about the signs of stage 4 ovarian cancer
In this case it is very important to keep an eye out for the persistent symptoms. This is because the symptoms of the other conditions come and go while the symptoms of ovarian cancer remain constant.
In this case there is little fluctuation and there aren’t any triggers that make the symptoms appear.
The most common stage 4 ovarian cancer symptoms include gas and abdominal swelling. Some other symptoms include constipation, diarrhea or having an upset stomach.
Since these symptoms are nonspecific, most probably they will be blamed on some other condition. This is why it is common to find that the cancer already spread by the time it is found.
Later stage symptoms
The stage 4 ovarian cancer signs become obvious because of the tumor that is growing in the pelvic region. It is possible that at this time you will notice abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause, pain in the lower abdomen or the lower back, bloating, pressure, fullness, and abdominal swelling.
In the same time some other stage 4 ovarian cancer symptoms include irregular periods, pain during intercourse, frequent urination, urge to urinate, change in the bladder or bowel movements, constipation, diarrhea, excessive fatigue, and digestive problems that last for longer periods of time.
There are some other warning signs of stage 4 ovarian cancer as well, such as pelvic pain or discomfort, indigestion, nausea, gas, lack of appetite, unexplained weight gain or weight loss, observing that your clothes are tighter at the waist than they used to be and lack of energy.
What you should know?
It is possible that the stage 4 ovarian cancer symptoms appear because the cancer cells have spread to the abdomen and this leads to fluid build-up, causing even more swelling. It is also possible for the patients to feel sick, be tired, or experience shortness of breath.
You should also know about the stage 4 ovarian cancer warning signs that it is possible for the cancer cell to produce hormones that result in breast enlargement, bleeding of the endometrium or growth of facial hair.
As you can see there are a lot of different stage 4 ovarian cancer symptoms but their majority isn’t specific and this is why a lot or patients don’t get an accurate diagnosis the first time they see their doctor.
