What are the symptoms of (epithelial) ovarian cancer?

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In many cases, no symptoms develop for quite some time after the cancer first develops. Symptoms may only be noticed when the cancerous tumour has become quite large. As the tumour grows, the most common early symptoms are:

Constant pain or a feeling of 'pressure' in the lower abdomen (pelvic area).
Bloating in the abdomen that does not go away (not bloating that comes and goes). There may also be an actual increase in size of your abdomen.
Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly.

Other symptoms that may develop include:

Loss of appetite.
Pain in the lower abdomen when having sex.
Passing urine frequently (as the bladder is 'irritated' by the nearby tumour).
A more marked swelling of the abdomen. This is caused by ascites, which is a collection of fluid in the abdomen. It is caused by the growth and spread of the cancer to the inside of the abdomen which causes fluid to accumulate.

All of the above symptoms can be caused by various other conditions. Also, when symptoms first start they are often 'vague' for some time such as mild discomfort in the lower abdomen. These symptoms may be thought to be due to other conditions. The possibility of ovarian cancer may not be considered for some time until the symptoms get worse.

If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, various other symptoms can develop.

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