Many health conditions have very similar symptoms and therefore it is imperative that if you have any unusual symptoms going on that you get a thorough physical from your doctor to help determine exactly what is going on. Ovarian Cancer and PMS -premenstrual syndrome are two conditions that have some of the same symptoms. The similar symptoms of Ovarian Cancer and PMS will be reviewed. Treatment options for both will be discussed as well.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
It has been believed that symptoms of Ovarian Cancer did not appear until the tumor spreads. Very recently however, it has been discovered that there may be early signs. These symptoms can be bloating, abdominal pain and frequent urination or intense urge to urinate. You may experience problems with eating or you may feel full really quickly.
If these symptoms have not appeared before or if they become severe, every woman should see their doctors’ for cancer screening.
Other symptoms of ovarian cancer could include a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic/abdominal area, lower abdominal pain, and/or vaginal bleeding. Other symptoms may include irregular periods, unexplained back pain that gets continually worse, and increased abdominal girth. Some gastro-intestinal problems such as gas, indigestion, decreased appetite and problems eating the usual amount of food may be symptomatic of ovarian cancer.
Nausea, vomiting, and feeling bloated may also indicate ovarian cancer. Excessive hair growth may also occur.
PMS Symptoms
There are two believed causes of premenstrual symptoms. The first is low serotonin levels (brain chemical that helps control mood, sleep, and your appetite. Associated symptoms include mood swings, irritability, aggressive behavior, and anger. Fatigue and sleep problems may also occur. Anxiety, depression and concentration problems are also associated symptoms. Food cravings and an increase in your appetite may also occur.
The second possible cause is related to the hormonal fluctuations and may be headaches including migraines. Sore breasts, bloating, and back ache might also be experienced by some women. There are over 100 associated indicators related to PMS.
Treatments
Ovarian cancer can be treated in a number of ways. Surgery is an option and may include removal of just the diseased ovary or both can be removed. If this is the case, you will no longer be able to get pregnant and early menopause may occur if you have had it already.
Radiation Treatment uses extremely high energy x-rays to do one of two things; shrink the cancer cells or to kill them. With radiation you may experience the side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea. Report these to your doctor immediately because there are ways to help. Chemotherapy is given most often after surgery.
They may be administered intravenously or by mouth. Once the drugs are in the blood stream they spread throughout the body. This is a good treatment when the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries.
Side effects from chemotherapy may include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, and rashes on the hands and feet. Damage may occur to the kidneys or nerves. Tiredness due to low red blood cell counts, bleeding/bruising from minor cuts due to low platelet counts and mouth sores may occur. Once treatments are done most of these things go away. PMS treatments include prescribed medications; possibly anti-depressants which are used no matter the level of severity. These come with some very serious side effects and as a result many people are looking for natural treatments such as herbal supplements.
Herbal supplements of high quality should have been put through intense testing. The metabolism of the ingredients is tested at the molecular level and the interactions of the ingredients examined. They also should have been made to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. This guarantees that what the label says it contains, is really in the supplement. The safety, purity, and effectiveness of the supplement are also guaranteed. Before taking any supplement, check with your doctor because the herbs may have an effect on how prescriptions you may be taking for other conditions work.
Conclusion
Ovarian cancer PMS symptoms do have some commonalities such as a little lower abdominal pain, weight gain, irregular periods, and indigestion. These symptoms can indicate either Ovarian Cancer/PMS symptoms. It is very strongly recommended that if you suspect you have PMS or ovarian cancer, to get medical advice as soon as possible. Both can be treated but ovarian cancer may be more survivable if caught early rather than later: and that is usually the case.
