Warning Signs Of Ovarian Cancer

Weight Loss

Weight loss occurs when an individual's energy balance in their body is negative. An individual's energy balance ratio is the number of calories they consume to the number they burn off. Individuals will have a positive energy balance when they consume more calories than they are burning off. A negative energy balance occurs when an individual consumes fewer calories than they burn. When the cells run out of calories to use to produce energy, they use adipose tissues instead.

When excess adipose tissue is used to produce energy, the individual will lose body mass due to decreased body fat. An ovarian cancer patient will often have a negative energy balance and lose weight. This is because the cancerous cells that are constantly growing and rapidly dividing are using up all of the calories being consumed through their diet.

Frequent Urge To Urinate

Many individuals with ovarian cancer will experience a frequent urge to urinate. This symptom often appears when the tumor or other cancerous cells begin to press on the individual’s bladder. The increased pressure can make individuals feel as if there is less space in their bladder and that they need to urinate more often. Even when individuals do go to the bathroom frequently because of this persistent urge to urinate, they will often have only a little urinary output. This particular symptom presents quite similarly to a urinary tract infection.