Ovarian cancer diagnosis often delayed due to silent symptoms

Prof. Dr. Evrim Erdemoğlu from Memorial Antalya Hospital has highlighted the critical issue of delayed diagnosis in ovarian cancer. Globally, approximately 331,000 women are diagnosed annually, with roughly 204,000 deaths. In Turkey, between 3,900 and 4,000 women are diagnosed each year.

Because the disease often presents no symptoms in its early stages, approximately two-thirds of patients are only diagnosed after the cancer has spread within the abdomen. Symptoms are frequently mistaken for persistent gastrointestinal issues. Key warning signs include abdominal bloating, tension, feeling full quickly after eating little, persistent pelvic or abdominal pain, increased urinary frequency, changes in bowel habits, and unexplained weight changes.

Erdemoğlu noted that when caught in the early stages, closed surgical methods combined with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can yield positive results. Individuals with a family history of the disease may consider genetic screening.