Dyno cancer foundation

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms & Diagnosis

The early stages of ovarian cancer may not cause any obvious symptoms. When symptoms are present, they are often vague or non-specific. However, as the cancer grows in size, some symptoms may persist, including the following:

	Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, gas		Loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss or gain
	Abdominal swelling or discomfort		Unusual fatigue
	Pelvic pain or cramping		Low back pain
	Bloating or a feeling of fullness, even after a small meal		Shortness of breath
	Painful, frequent, or burning urination with no infection		Abnormal vaginal bleeding or irregular periods
	Diarrhea or constipation		Pain during intercourse

NOTE: It is important to remember these symptoms may be attributed to a number of conditions other than ovarian cancer. Only a medical professional can make this determination.

There are currently no reliable screening tests for ovarian cancer. Thus, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late and at an advanced stage. A yearly your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to make a diagnosis:

	Physical examination (e.g., pelvic exam)
	Blood tests/tumor markers (e.g., CA-125)
	Ultrasound (e.g., transvaginal)
	Other imaging tests (e.g., CT scans, MRI)
	Biopsy and surgery (e.g., laparotomy, laparoscopy)

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Cervical Cancer Symptoms & Diagnosis

What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervixgrow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer can often be cured when it’s found early. It is usually found at a very early stage through a Pap test.

What causes cervical cancer?
Most cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV. You can get HPV by having sexual contact with someone who has it. There are many types of the HPV virus. Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some of them cause genital warts, but other types may not cause any symptoms.

You can have HPV for years and not know it. It stays in your body and can lead to cervical cancer years after you were infected. This is why it is important for you to have regular Pap tests. A Pap test can find changes in cervical cells before they turn into cancer. If you treat these cell changes, you may prevent cervical cancer.

What are the symptoms?
Abnormal cervical cell changes rarely cause symptoms. But you may have symptoms if those cell changes grow into cervical cancer. Symptoms of cervical cancer may include:

	Bleeding from the vagina that is not normal, or a change in your menstrual cycle that you can't explain.
	Bleeding when something comes in contact with your cervix, such as during sex or when you put in a diaphragm.
	Pain during sex.
	Vaginal discharge that is tinged with blood.

How is cervical cancer diagnosed?

As part of your regular pelvic exam, you should have a Pap test. During a Pap test the doctor scrapes a small sample of cells from the surface of the cervix to look for cell changes. If a Pap test shows abnormal cell changes, your doctor may do other tests to look for precancerous or cancer cells on your cervix.

Your doctor may also do a Pap test and take a sample of tissue (biopsy) if you have symptoms of cervical cancer, such as bleeding after sex.

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PREVENT BREAST CANCER ITS IN YOUR HANDS

Examine Your Breast Once A Month

Doing a monthly breast self examination (BSE) is vital for every woman. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. 1 out of every 8 women will develop the disease.

Performing a monthly breast self examination may also aid in early detection of breast cancer.

Here's How:

	Lay down and place a pillow under your right shoulder. Next, place your right arm under your head.
	Using your three middle fingers of your left hand, massage your right breast with the pads of your fingers. Check for any lumps or abnormalities. You can move in a circular motion, or up and down. Make sure you use the same motion every month.
	Continue the motion, extending to the outside of the breast to your underarm.
	Repeat on left side.
	Next, repeat examine standing up, with one arm behind your shoulder as you examine each breast. Standing or sitting up allows you to feel the outside of the breast more accurately.
	For added precaution, stand in front of a mirror and squeeze each nipple. Look for any discharge.
	Take note of any dimpling, redness or swelling.

Tips:

	You can do a portion of the examine while you are in shower. Incorporating it into a normal activity can make it easier to do, and less of a time constraint. Remember to mark your calendar every month as a reminder.
	Do the self breast examine every month at the same time. Menstruating women should perform it a few days after their period. Women taking oral contraceptives should do the exam on the first day of starting a new pack of pills.
	Report any changes to your physician, even if you feel it is minor.
	You can also choose a friend who will be your BSE (breast self exam)

What You Need: A pillow, A mirror

What to look out for

Changes that could be due to a breast cancer are:

	A lump or thickening in an area of the breast
	A change in the size or shape of a breast
	Dimpling of the skin
	A change in the shape of your nipple, particularly if it turns in, sinks into the breast, or has an irregular shape A blood stained discharge from the nipple
	A rash on a nipple or surrounding area
	A swelling or lump in your armpit

Like breast lumps, these signs don't necessarily mean cancer. Inverted nipples, blood stained nipple discharge or a rash can all be due to other medical conditions. But if any of these things happen to you, you should get it checked out.

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