Ovarian cancer is the second most common type of gynecologic cancer in women and has the highest death rate, mostly because it is usually found at a late stage.

In Peninsular Malaysia, this type of cancer affects women more frequently than any other. Ovarian cancer contributes to 5.5% of female cancer cases in Malaysia between 2012 and 2016, with a 1.6% lifetime risk in the general population according to Malaysian National Cancer Registry.

Over the years, doctors have referred to ovarian cancer as a "silent killer" because they believed its signs were imperceptible. Doctors frequently felt there was nothing that could be done because patients were diagnosed so late.

But over the past 20 years, numerous studies have shown that ovarian cancer does indeed exhibit early warning symptoms. Their pelvic and abdominal pain, increased frequency and urges to urinate, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and bloating or stomach distension were the most prevalent symptoms. However, doctors frequently misdiagnosed ovarian cancer as a different illness.

Two Symptoms Of Ovarian Cancer Doctors Often Misdiagnose:

1. Stomach cramps or bloating
Symptoms like stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea and constipation tend to come and go over time, and can last for days, weeks or months at a time. Most misdiagnosed cases given based on symptoms above are because of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It is a common condition that affects the digestive system. Plus, IBS affects more women than men

2. Difficulty breathing, fatigue and indigestion
The most common cause of stomach discomfort and bloating is too much intestinal gas. If your stomach feels bloated after eating, it can be due to digestive issues.

Abdominal discomfort results from the GI system becoming bloated with air or gas. Most patients also experience bloating and feeling full, tight, or swollen in the abdomen.

Your abdomen may also be rigid, painful, and swollen. With bloating, it's common to have discomfort, excessive gas (flatulence), frequent burping or belching, and other symptoms.