Possibly. But symptoms can mimic other diseases, so only your clinician can diagnose it
The American Cancer Society says the rate of ovarian cancer deaths has decreased by 45% since 1976, and that most of this progress has happened since the mid-2000s. That’s the good news.
The not-so-good news is that ovarian cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until the cancer is advanced. Even regular pelvic exams usually can’t detect small tumors, and there’s currently no screening test that works well enough to find it early.
While symptoms may not appear at all, it’s important to know what they feel like if they occur. It’s also essential to schedule regular visits with your gynecologist to make sure you’re in good health.
If you have symptoms or your clinician finds something suspicious during a pelvic exam, they will recommend tests to find the cause. During the initial visit, they will ask about your family medical history – including risk factors – and will ask for details about your symptoms.
They may also perform a pelvic exam to check for enlarged ovaries or fluid in the abdomen. They may conduct a pelvic ultrasound to evaluate your uterus and ovaries or a computed tomography (CT) scan of your abdomen and pelvis to check the entire abdominal area.
In addition, the clinician might recommend a blood test called cancer antigen 125 (CA 125). The results of CA 125 are useful only in context of the other tests and a complete physical examination. Many conditions other than cancer can cause CA 125 to rise including normal menstrual period, ovulation, inflammatory disease, recent surgery and noncancerous gynecologic problems like endometriosis.
“Having a higher CA 125 result doesn’t always mean you have cancer,” says gynecologic oncologist M. Bijoy Thomas, MD, with Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, part of Jefferson Health. “Many conditions other than cancer can cause CA 125 to rise. Early ovarian cancer can even have a normal value of CA 125.”
All the test results must be carefully interpreted by a qualified clinician. From there, a specialist is the best next step.
“If ovarian cancer is suspected, it’s important to see a doctor trained to treat cancers of the female reproductive system – and see them before you have any surgery,” Dr. Thomas says. “Those in our specialty will ensure you get the best kind of surgery and treatment for your cancer.”
