I'm a bit worried I might have symptoms of ovarian cancer

[OneFrenchEgg]

For the last few months I have felt so uncomfortable - stretched/bloated and have put it down to menopause. (I'm 50). But I also have episodes of constipation, stomach pain, loss of appetite, feeling full quickly. Like I sit with a cushion on my stomach, and I try to lie down rather than sit up.
It's just dawned on me that this might be more than menopause.

Please see your GP this is the only way for it to be confirmed or dismissed.
Try not to Google as it is more scary reading things which may not be relevant.
Good luck

Please see your GP as soon as you can.I had ovarian cancer and it was missed for a few months told it was IBS.Luckily I saw another Dr who admitted me ,it was stage 1 so longer could have been critical.I was lucky,invasive surgery followed by chemo.If you feel something is wrong always seek medical help dont put it off.Caught early there is a good outcome.Good luck.

@OneFrenchEgg definitely discuss your symptoms with your GP and mention that you are concerned about ovarian cancer.

Ask your GP to do a CA125 blood test - a high number may be suggestive of ovarian cancer (but there are other reasons why it might be high). In some people with ovarian cancer the CA125 test is not a good marker. So ideally you need a pelvic ultrasound and a CT scan too.

Don't let them fob you off with a diagnosis of IBS especially if your symptoms are new to you and persistent.

Good luck.

Thank you - unfortunately I've already googled (sort of) as I was trying to see if meno bloating was meant to be permanent.
I will ring the GP tomorrow, I had some very temporary relief when a period started (after 50 days). I have back pain sometimes but I am very sedentary. Also started HRT in Jan.

@Ragruggers thank you for sharing, I'm glad you caught it early. This has been about three months that I've been so uncomfortable - literally wanting to bend over or stretch.

Also: stomach noises. Gurgling. Especially after eating or in the evening. (Using thread to post thoughts for GP).

Have you had Covid ?
I've had a lot of these symptoms after Covid. So try not to worry x

Get it checked out. I had those symptoms. Went to doc who did a blood test and booked for an ultrasound. All good. Got diagnosed with adenomyosis I think it’s called. Can’t remember. But it’s not serious. Am still very glad I got it looked at.

No Covid as far as im aware.
Sort of good to hear there's an alternative - I'm very scared of cancer as the majority of parents/grandparents died early through various cancers (not breast so no genetic link just terrible luck).

I was recently diagnosed with OC (at 36 so I was fortunate in that the GP did not brush me off with menopause/IBS but it is already stage 3 so not so fortunate….). Really my only symptoms were bloating and a change in bowel habits. The bloating was not accompanied by gas and felt a lot like when I was pregnant (ie fluid under the ribs).

Please do make that call tomorrow, the chances are high it’s something innocuous but you need to know for sure. Sending you strength.

Thank you @AGreatUsername I'm sorry youve had that news. Im very bloated ribs down, and a bit constipated at times. I just thought it was a bit weird not to fluctuate with menopause. I'll ring tomorrow and see if I can get through.

Absolutely insist on investigation. Don't be fobbed off

Op, I’m another one with Ovarian Cancer and I eventually had a 6kg cancerous cyst removed. Ovarian cancer isn’t something that can be ‘watched’ and you need to see your Dr and tell him or her that you want the possibility you could have OC investigated. Do not be fobbed off with them starting investigation and eliminating things one by one. Make sure investigations for OC are in there right from the start.

CA125. ultrasound both vaginal and abdominal. And a CAT scan.

And it’s true that not all OC’s are obvious with the CA125. The type I had ‘mucinous’ meant that my CA 125 was in the 40’s when diagnosed - normal I think is up to 35 and it’s common for women to have CA results in the 1000’s when diagnosed.

I was ‘lucky’ that my cancer was caught at stage 1a and apart from a massive surgery I’ve needed no other treatment. I’m still being checked every 6 months but so far so good and my chances of it coming back drop considerably come November when my first two years post surgery is up.

I lost someone close to me to ovarian cancer. She was experiencing symptoms, but reluctant to seek help.
Get it checked out before it's too late. It could be nothing. But if it is, faster it's found the better.

Ok thank you. Sounds like it can be causing early. Thank you for people sharing their experiences. I will make sure I outline what I'm worried about rather than just my symptoms.

@OneFrenchEgg absolutely get checked- it's the only way to know for certain what's going on.
But just to say, I had similar symptoms a while back, feeling very full, change in bowel habits, indigestion and just feeling 'off.' I was hugely anxious about going to my GP, part of me wanted to bury my head in the sand but I just had to bite the bullet and went for the full range of tests; blood work, internal examination, stool sample... nothing showed up and then a few days after that I woke up one morning and realised I felt ok. So I've no clue what it was, maybe some bug that lingered on for a few weeks. So although it's a scary time, you do need answers and hopefully nothing sinister will show up.

Thank you for posting that; it's so scary to have symptoms that fit a bit. Overall I've put on weight and lost tone over lockdown (a dress size and 1/2 stone) but the bloating, constipation and back pain are pretty consistent. It might be something easy to fix but I do feel more inclined to check.

I know how you feel. My symptoms lasted quite a while. After the blood test I was on tenterhooks convinced my CA125 would be through the roof or that my stool sample would indicate bowel cancer, honestly I was a mess. After my tests I got a call from the GP surgery asking me to book a telephone appointment to talk through my results and I was in tears because I couldn't stand the thought of waiting any longer. The receptionist was lovely and said although she couldn't interpret everything on the tests cos obviously it was technical, she then said 'the doctor has put 'no further action needed' so I knew then there was nothing serious. My GP then talked it through on the phone a few days later- all results within normal range. She said to come back if the symptoms persisted but a few days later I realised I wasn't feeling rubbish (I had felt rubbish for so long that it really was a revelation) To this day I'm convinced it was some bug or virus which got hold and just went on and on.

That's good to know although I'm sorry you didn't get an answer. There is a family history of gut type problems (ibs, diverticulitis) so I don't know if that's caught up with me. I've just never been so uncomfortable before.

I had these symptoms and was really worried but it turned out just to be (very large!) fibroids. I've had a hysterectomy and feel much now. Hopefully this is all that's wrong with you

I hope you have your investigations are underway op.
I have the same symptoms but was just told by radiology that my scans have been downgraded to routine and it will be at least 8 weeks (already been waiting 6 weeks for it).

full bloods and stool were fine. No CA125 offered.

very infuriating to have no sense of urgency when I have many symptoms of OC: bloating, I can constantly feel a dull discomfort in one ovary, peeing every half hour, bad cramping after sex and a sister with breast cancer.

Go back to your GP and tell them you want a CA125 done now and ask about the two week pathway.

what’s happening to you isn’t acceptable and it’s why so many women aren’t seem till their OC is advanced.

In fact I’d contact one of the OC charities and ask their advice on how to be taken seriously by your GP and the hospital.

Im very angry on your behalf.

I had a routine scan due to hrt - within an hour of getting home I had a link to open for another hospital and when I entered the portal it said 'oncology referral' - I was absolutely felled, no one to discuss it with or any idea why. It was three weeks before I spoke to a doctor in oncology. They said I should have had blood tests first. I then had blood tests and another scan. I have cysts and they will be monitored, blood tests for ca 125 clear. Just had follow up tests after 6 months and waiting results.
OP and oushy here, get blood tests asap so you have them before your scan. Ovarian cancer is known as the silent killer and you have symptoms that will probably be nothing but also could be signs - please push asap. Good luck.

Thanks all. I’m going to pressure them to take me seriously.

Thank you - I have tried to book an appointment but GP is quite tricky (you have to book on the day) am going to email. I've been reading the side effects of my HRT as well so I can raise that.