Ovarian Cancer and Pain | My ovarian cancer team (2023)

FAQs

Does ovarian cancer cause a lot of pain? ›

A common symptom of ovarian cancer that can easily be brushed off is pain in your abdomen, hips, or pelvis. Some will feel discomfort during sex. You may also have back pain or an upset stomach. Constipation is occasionally felt.

Main symptoms of ovarian cancer

a swollen tummy or feeling bloated. pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips (pelvis) no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating. an urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often.

For mild pain, you may get prescribed an over-the-counter (OTC) analgesic such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Or, you can try a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like aspirin or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). NSAIDs relieve pain and bring down inflammation in the body.

End stage (terminal) ovarian cancer is when the cancer cannot be cured and will lead to death. Signs that a person is nearing the end of life from cancer may include needing to sleep most of the time, weight loss, minimal to no appetite, difficulty eating or swallowing fluids, decreased ability to talk, and others.

While this vague ovarian cancer symptom can accompany any number of conditions, it is important to note if the pain is new to you, it does not come and go, and cannot be easily attributed to other factors. If your pain improves when your stress is alleviated, then your symptoms are likely related to stress.

“Women often report that they feel vague pelvic pain that feels like a little pressure. This pressure [generally] comes and goes,” says Marilyn Huang, MD, MS, co-director of translational gynecologic oncology research at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Abdominal discomfort: It could feel like acid reflux, a constant pain or a dull ache. This could also feel like pelvic pressure, which causes more-frequent urination. Feeling of fullness: You can't eat as much anymore, but your clothes still feel tight and you're gaining weight.

“Ovarian cancers can secondarily cause leg pain in a number of conditions, but the first thing I would say is the likely cause of leg pain would be arthritis or other musculoskeletal issues. It might occur, for example, if someone needs a knee replacement or if they had an old injury.”

Bloating, diarrhea and abdominal pain are three of the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer. They're also some of the easiest to overlook. Perhaps it's because they can also be signs of so many other conditions, including indigestion, a stomach virus, and even the cramps that can accompany a woman's menstrual cycle.

Try warm baths or warm washcloths on painful areas. (Avoid areas where radiation was given.) If this doesn't help, you can try ice or cool packs. Gentle massage or pressure might also help some types of pain.

How often is the pain with ovarian cancer? ›

Women with malignancies have more frequent pelvic pain, abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, and urinary tract symptoms compared with other clinic patients. Women with ovarian cancer typically report that symptoms occur every day compared with clinic patients who typically only have symptoms 2 to 3 times per month.

Surgery is the main treatment for ovarian cancer, recommended primarily when the vast majority of the cancer or affected tissue can be removed successfully. Some early-stage ovarian patients may undergo minimally-invasive procedures to remove ovarian tumors and/or preserve fertility.

Long term survivors of ovarian cancer (≥10 years from diagnosis) are at increased risk for death from falls. Long term survivors also have an increased risk of death from breast, lung and, colorectal cancer.

Late-stage ovarian cancer may cause abdominal, pelvic, or back pain, fatigue, abdominal bloating, constipation, urinary symptoms, or difficulty breathing. The diagnosis is made by laboratory studies, imaging, and tissue biopsy.

For all types of ovarian cancer taken together, about 78% of women with ovarian cancer live for at least 1 year after diagnosis. More than 60% live for at least 3 years after being diagnosed, and over 50% of women with ovarian cancer are still alive at least 5 years after diagnosis.

When ovarian cancer reaches an advanced stage and spreads to other areas of the body, symptoms are much more likely to occur. Additional symptoms at this stage may include: Fatigue. Constipation.

Does ovarian cancer spread quickly? Ovarian cancer grows quickly and can progress from early stages to advanced within a year. With the most common form, malignant epithelial carcinoma, the cancer cells can grow out of control quickly and spread in weeks or months.

If you've suddenly noticed ovary pain along with symptoms like sudden severe pain, fever, or vomiting, seek prompt medical care. It's possible that you have a ruptured ovarian cyst or ovarian torsion. It's a good rule of thumb to visit a doctor if you're having persistent or recurring pelvic pain that concerns you.

Pelvic Pain or Pressure

See your doctor if you have pelvic pain that doesn't go away, especially if you also have a feeling of pressure in your pelvis. The pain may be on one side of your pelvis. It can also be diffuse and felt all over your pelvis.

What causes pain in the ovaries? There are many reasons someone may experience ovary pain, including ovarian cysts, ovulation pain, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or ovarian cancer.

Where is ovarian pain located? ›

The ovaries are located in the lower abdomen. That means if you have ovarian pain, you'll most likely feel it in your lower abdomen -- below your belly button -- and pelvis. It's important to have any pelvic pain checked out by your regular doctor or obstetrician/gynecologist. Several different conditions can cause it.

For ovarian cancer, doctors figure out your stage by testing tissue samples from different parts of your pelvis and belly. This information helps your doctor better predict the best way to treat your cancer. Staging needs to be very precise. If not, a cancer that's spread outside your ovaries might be missed.

Severe lower back pain is also associated with ovarian cancer. Just before diagnosis, many women have complained of having back pain that persists throughout the day and interferes with their sleep. This is usually caused by the fluid that collects in the pelvis and causes irritation in the tissues of the lower back.

Ovarian cysts can also lead to leg pain. Doctors call this referred pain, which can come from several areas in your belly or pelvis. The discomfort comes from certain nerves your ovaries and legs share.

There is no single trajectory for where ovarian cancer will spread; however, if not caught in early stages, most cases of ovarian cancer will follow a similar path: from the pelvis, to more distant parts of the abdomen and peritoneal cavity, to the lymph nodes, and the liver.

Endometriosis. Endometriosis happens when extra tissue similar to the lining of your uterus grows outside of it. It can cause symptoms similar to those of ovarian cancer and other conditions that look like ovarian cancer, including: Pelvic or belly pain.

The cells may form a tumor on the ovary, or they can also break off from the main tumor and spread to other parts of the body. Although ovarian cancer can spread throughout the entire body, in most cases it stays in the abdomen and affects organs such as the intestines, liver and stomach.

Stage 4 ovarian cancer means that cancer has spread into the fluid around the lungs and distant organs and tissues. Symptoms can include fatigue, back pain, bloating, and nausea. Doctors can use biopsies, imaging tests, blood tests, and genetic tests to help diagnose the condition.

Pain can be caused by the cancer itself. Pain could happen if the cancer grows into or destroys nearby tissue. As a tumor grows, it can press on nerves, bones or organs. The tumor can also release chemicals that can cause pain.

What helps cancer patients feel better? ›

The new drug, mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (Elahere), is cleared for some patients who have what's known as epithelial ovarian cancer (the most common form of these malignancies according to MedlinePlus), as well as cancers in the fallopian tubes and peritoneum, a delicate membrane that covers the abdominal walls, ...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , doctors usually treat ovarian cancer with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. However, they may also treat ovarian cancer using radiation therapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.

The three PARP inhibitors that have been approved for use with epithelial ovarian cancer are olaparib, niraparib and rucaparib. Angiogenesis inhibitors are drugs that essentially starve ovarian cancer tumors by slowing the growth of blood vessels.

Is it terminal? Ovarian cancer can be terminal. About 45% of people with any stage of ovarian cancer survive for 5 years or longer from the date a doctor diagnoses them. For stage 4 ovarian cancer, the 5-year survival rate is 30.3% .

Generally, bowel obstruction is associated with a median overall survival of about 90 days in people with ovarian cancer. People with recurrent ovarian cancer have a median survival of 45–169 days following the diagnosis.

Several studies have followed patients with ovarian cancer that had spread to their liver and found that those who had the cancerous parts of their liver removed survived more than twice as long as those who didn't (around 50 months vs. 20 months).

Some people don't have pain. But if a person is in pain, it can usually be well controlled, and people can be kept very comfortable. The doctors and nurses looking after the dying person will do all they can. Sometimes restlessness is a sign of being in pain.

Patients with cancer may have trouble swallowing in the last days of life. Both fluids and food may be hard to swallow, causing a loss of appetite, weight loss and muscle wasting, and weakness. Small amounts of food that the patient enjoys may be given if they want to eat.

In stage IV, the cancer has spread to distant sites, like the liver, the lungs, or bones. These cancers are very hard to cure with current treatments, but they can still be treated.

Can you live with stage 4 ovarian cancer? ›

Stage 4 Prognosis & Survival Rates

Most women diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer have a five-year survival rate of approximately 17%. Survival rates are often based on studies of large numbers of people, but they can't predict what will happen in any particular person's case. Remember, people are not statistics!

The development of malignant ascites carries a poor prognosis, with the median survival reported anywhere between 1 and 4 months.

When ovarian cancer reaches an advanced stage and spreads to other areas of the body, symptoms are much more likely to occur. Additional symptoms at this stage may include: Fatigue. Constipation.

Late-stage ovarian cancer may cause abdominal, pelvic, or back pain, fatigue, abdominal bloating, constipation, urinary symptoms, or difficulty breathing. The diagnosis is made by laboratory studies, imaging, and tissue biopsy.

Does ovarian cancer spread quickly? Ovarian cancer grows quickly and can progress from early stages to advanced within a year. With the most common form, malignant epithelial carcinoma, the cancer cells can grow out of control quickly and spread in weeks or months.

Ovarian cancer symptoms may include: Pelvic or abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating. Changes in your eating habits, getting full early and losing your appetite. Vaginal discharge or abnormal bleeding, especially if the bleeding occurs outside of your typical menstrual cycle or after you've gone through menopause.

For all types of ovarian cancer taken together, about 78% of those with ovarian cancer live for at least 1 year after diagnosis. More than 60% live for at least 3 years after being diagnosed, and over 50% of patients with ovarian cancer are still alive at least 5 years after diagnosis.

There is no single trajectory for where ovarian cancer will spread; however, if not caught in early stages, most cases of ovarian cancer will follow a similar path: from the pelvis, to more distant parts of the abdomen and peritoneal cavity, to the lymph nodes, and the liver.

Ovarian pain may be continuous. Or it may come and go. It may get worse with certain activities, such as exercise or urination. It can be so mild that you hardly notice it.