Early detection of ovarian cancer is the key to treatment success, so make sure you can recognize the symptoms.

You may have thought the abdominal discomfort was just indigestion at first, the nausea came from something you ate and occasional bleeding after menopause was just a fluke. But could it be something more?

Many of the symptoms of ovarian cancer could also be related to other less serious ailments, so it's important not to scare yourself unnecessarily. But you do need to know common signs of ovarian cancer. Early detection gives you the best chance of successful treatment.

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition warns women to look for these signs of possible ovarian cancer.

• Bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Trouble eating or feeling full quickly
• Feeling the need to urinate urgently or frequently
• Fatigue
• Nausea, heartburn
• Back pain
• Pain during sex
• Constipation or menstrual changes

Many of those symptoms come and go and nothing is wrong. It's when they persist for at least two weeks and do not respond to diet changes, medication, rest or other interventions that you should bring it up to your doctor.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. If you need to talk to a doctor about signs of ovarian or other cancers, we are happy to give you a referral through our free Consult-A-Nurse service. Call 1-800-618-2631.

The cancer program at Westside Regional Medical Center recognizes that everyone experiences cancer in her own way. Our team, which includes some of the finest cancer specialists in South Florida, comes up with a personalized treatment plan for each patient. We use the latest treatments to aggressively and safely treat cancer. You can learn more about our cancer care by calling 1-866-4HCA-DOCS (442-2362).

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