Yearly pelvic exam for ovarian cancer
About 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States. About 15,000 of these will die from it. The survival rate is so poor because many women ignore the early symptoms of ovarian cancer. Contrary to what was previously thought, there are early symptoms of ovarian cancer that women should be aware of. Some of these include:
- bloating
- upper or lower abdominal pain
- feeling full easily while eating
- urinating frequently
- rushing to take a pee so that you don’t wet yourself
If these symptoms are continuous and last for several weeks then you really need to see your doctor. It’s possible that they may be caused by other conditions that are not life-threatening, but the only way to sure is to visit your doctor. One of the things he/she will do is to give you a pelvic examination. This can help to detect enlargement of the ovaries which can be followed up with other tests.
A yearly pelvic exam is very important especially for older women even if you don’t have any symptoms. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the very early stages chances of survival are much higher than when it is advanced.
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