Misdiagnosed as IBS: Ovarian Cancer

by Aurametrix

Disease is a group of symptoms caused by abnormal conditions of the body or mind.

The symptoms of most diseases are similar.

According to Healthline, abdominal pain could be a symptom for 148 different conditions with food-triggered conditions on top of the list. WebMD searched for persistent abdominal pain of a female user offers 20 conditions starting from IBS.
Neither of the lists is complete.

Lindy Waldron from East Sussex was diagnosed with IBS although had symptoms of ovarian cancer. Kathy West was referred to gastroenteroligists too, and got the right diagnosis only becouse of "taking charge of own health care." Ateyah's story sounds very similar. Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer. Her symptoms were inconclusive, and she was treated for everything under the sun until it was too late. "You have to be the director of your own movie" says another patient that demanded ca125 blood test unsatisfied with her diagnosis.

Of 400 GPs surveyed by a research charity Target Ovarian Cancer, 80% wrongly thought women with early stage ovarian cancer had no symptoms.
The majority of GPs (69%) surveyed seemed unaware of the fact that patients with ovarian cancer are more likely to experience frequent, sudden and persistent symptoms than patients with IBS.
Less than 2% of the 400 GPs surveyed knew that difficulty eating and a feeling of fullness were important symptoms.

According to Target Ovarian Cancer, the key symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
• Persistent pelvic or abdominal pain (tummy and below)
• Increased abdominal size/persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (needing to pass water more urgently or more often than usual)
• Changes in bowel habit
• Extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
• Back pain.