What are the symptoms of ovarian cancer?
Short answer
Ovarian cancer may cause persistent bloating or abdominal swelling, pelvic pain, feeling full quickly, urinary changes, bowel changes, tiredness or unexplained weight loss.
This answers one question. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an assessment by a licensed doctor.
At a glance
- Possible symptoms
- Symptoms vary and can have causes other than cancer.
- Assessment
- Persistent or changing symptoms deserve clinical review.
- Urgent warning
- Severe, sudden or rapidly worsening symptoms need prompt help.
What it means
Symptoms may include a swollen or uncomfortable abdomen, pelvic pressure, back pain, indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea, frequent urination and reduced appetite. A change from your usual pattern that persists deserves attention. Digestive, urinary, hormonal and benign gynaecological conditions can cause similar symptoms, so they do not show that cancer is present.
What to do
Arrange review if symptoms persist, recur frequently or affect eating, sleep or daily activity. Record bloating, pain, bowel and urinary changes and their relation to meals or cycles. Assessment may include examination, blood tests and pelvic ultrasound. Ask about family history and whether genetic testing is appropriate.
When to seek care
Seek urgent care for sudden severe abdominal or pelvic pain, repeated vomiting, inability to pass urine or stool, fainting, heavy unexpected bleeding or rapidly increasing swelling with breathlessness. Urgency is based on severity and speed of change.
Questions for your doctor
Could my symptoms have digestive, urinary or gynaecological causes? Do I need pelvic ultrasound? What family history matters? Should I discuss BRCA testing? Which symptoms require urgent help?
Questions people ask
Do these symptoms prove cancer?
No. Many non-cancerous conditions can cause similar symptoms. A clinician uses the history, examination and appropriate tests to investigate.
When should I seek urgent help?
Seek urgent care for severe or sudden symptoms, major bleeding, fainting, breathing difficulty, inability to swallow or fever with marked illness.
Related
Related reading
Keep reading
Cancer care in the UAE
Hospitals & Medical Centers in Abu Dhabi
Most UAE cancer care is delivered inside hospital services rather than by standalone oncology clinics, so these are licensed hospitals & medical centers listed in Abu Dhabi. Confirm the specific cancer service exists before you travel, and know that asking for a second opinion is routine.
Ahalia Hospital Musaffah Building - Musaffah - Musaffah Industrial - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +26 more
Al Ruwais Industrial City - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +30 more
Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +30 more
Second opinions are routine in cancer care and asking for one does not affect your treatment. How to arrange a second opinion in the UAE.
Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.
A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.
Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.