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Ovarian cancer can mimic UTI symptoms, Houston Methodist expert said
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said women with ongoing urinary urgency or frequency may be overlooking a symptom of ovarian cancer. This Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Houston Methodist physicians urge patients whose symptoms persist despite urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment to ask about their ovaries.
With only a 52% five-year survival rate, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital gynecologic oncologist Dr. Behrouz Zand said ovarian cancer often starts subtly, making it the deadliest gynecologic cancer.
“Women are often treated for recurrent UTIs for months before anyone thinks of the ovary,” Zand said. “I encourage women experiencing these symptoms to ask their doctor about ovarian cancer.”
Zand uses the acronym B.E.A.T to bring awareness to the additional symptoms of ovarian cancer:
B – Bloating that is persistent E – Eating less and feeling full quickly A – Abdominal or pelvic pain T – Trouble with your bladder or bowels
“It’s the persistence that matters,” Zand said. “Symptoms that are new, occur more than 12 times a month and last more than 2-3 weeks warrant evaluation.”
Unlike some other cancers, ovarian cancer does not have an effective routine screening test, Zand said, noting that a pelvic examination alone cannot reliably rule out ovarian cancer. If symptoms are present, clinicians may use a combination of medical history, examination, ultrasound, blood tests and other diagnostic procedures before referring a patient to a gynecologic oncologist.
Zand said women must share any family history of ovarian, breast, uterine or colorectal cancer with their doctor, as inherited gene changes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 can increase risk. But even without known risk factors, persistent symptoms should never be ignored, he said.
Learn more about ovarian cancer via Houston Methodist’s blog, “On Health.”
Source: Houston Methodist
