Can irregular periods cause cancer
Unexplained weight loss. But if you suddenly lose more than 10 pounds without changing your diet or exercise habits, talk to your doctor. Vaginal discharge colored with blood. Bloody, dark or smelly discharge is usually a sign of infection. Constant fatigue. A busy week can wear anyone out. But in most cases, a little rest should cure your fatigue. If fatigue is interfering with your work or leisure activities, stop blaming your hectic life and see your doctor.
Loss of appetite or feeling full all the time. Never hungry? Appetite changes may be symptoms of ovarian cancer or other cancers not related to the reproductive system. Pain in the pelvis or abdominal area. Ongoing abdominal pain or discomfort — including gas, indigestion, pressure, bloating and cramps — can signal ovarian or endometrial cancer.
Changes in your bathroom habits. Suddenly need to urinate all the time or feel constant pressure on your bladder? Persistent indigestion or nausea. Occasionally, persistent indigestion or nausea can signal gynecologic cancers. Play it safe, and see your doctor if you feel queasy more often than usual.
Change in bowel habits may be a sign of something externally pressing on the colon. This could be any advanced stage gynecologic cancer or other cancers. Changes in your breasts. Some women with cancer have low levels, and some healthy women can have high levels. And as recent debates over mammograms and prostate cancer screening programs have shown, it's challenging to figure out who to screen and how often.
So researchers are keen to find better ways of identifying women who might be at risk , so they can be watched more closely. One thing that doctors know is that women who use birth control pills have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. They were presumed to have it — there was no formal diagnosis of PCOS. Years later, these women were more likely to have ovarian cancer. The researchers found that were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, at an average age of 63, and 84 of them died from the cancer.
Gardner says it could be one more piece of information to follow up on. Women worried about ovarian cancer can look for what she called a triad of symptoms, including:. There is often a less serious cause. If these symptoms occur regularly, see a doctor. This way, if there is a problem, the doctor can diagnose and treat it quickly.
The ACS state that a person should see a doctor if they experience common symptoms of ovarian cancer more than 12 times in a month. They may then examine the pelvis. If a person has ovarian cancer, an early diagnosis means that they can receive the necessary treatment as soon as possible. A study found that interpreting the results of a CA blood test using a risk of ovarian cancer algorithm may help doctors diagnose a higher percentage of people with ovarian cancer.
The researchers compared the algorithm with the results of the blood test alone. Around 20 percent of people with ovarian cancer receive an early diagnosis. Often, this type of cancer causes no symptoms in the early stages.
At present, there is no recommended screening test for people who have no symptoms and no increased risk of ovarian cancer. Around 94 percent of people live longer than 5 years after an early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. However, less commonly, missing a period or having irregular periods may indicate ovarian cancer. More common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:. If a person has symptoms of ovarian cancer, they should see a doctor for an evaluation. The outlook for ovarian cancer can improve with early diagnosis and detection.
Knowing ovarian cancer statistics can help people understand their risk and what to expect. It is important to note that cancer affects everyone…. A missed period is often one of the first signs of pregnancy, but there are a variety of other reasons why a person might not menstruate. Learn which…. Symptoms of ovarian cancer include an increased need to urinate and pain in the abdomen, back, and pelvis.
Learn more about the signs and when to see…. Ovarian cancer is common. In this article, learn about the symptoms, risk factors, treatment options, and outlook for this type of cancer.