September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Despite years of public health messaging, ovarian cancer still presents late in India — usually because four symptoms are dismissed as digestion, ageing or stress. This article is for the women, mothers, sisters and friends who can change that pattern this year.
The short answer: see a gynaecologist if you have any one of these — bloating, feeling full quickly, pain in the lower tummy or pelvis, or needing to pass urine urgently or more often — when it is new for you and happens more than 12 times a month (on most days). The first tests are usually a pelvic ultrasound and a CA-125 blood test. Most women with these symptoms do not have ovarian cancer, but it is worth checking. This advice follows the symptom guidance doctors use in 2026 for adult women; it is not a screening test. In Hindi this is often searched as ovary cancer ke lakshan (अंडाशय कैंसर के लक्षण).
On this page
- Symptom 1: Daily bloating that does not resolve
- Symptom 2: Feeling full after small meals
- Symptom 3: Urinating more often without infection
- Symptom 4: Constant lower abdominal pressure
- When to act
Symptom 1: Daily bloating that does not resolve
Bloating that is new for you, happens on most days (more than 12 times a month) and does not settle with changes in diet or bowel habit is the most commonly missed early sign. Many women self-medicate with antacids or dietary changes for months before seeking imaging.
Symptom 2: Feeling full after small meals
Feeling full quickly (doctors call this early satiety) can happen when an enlarging ovarian mass or fluid in the tummy (ascites) presses on the stomach. If you find you cannot finish portions you previously enjoyed, this is not ‘just ageing’.
Symptom 3: Urinating more often without infection
A pelvic mass can press on the bladder, mimicking urinary tract infection. If urine cultures are negative but symptoms persist, an ultrasound is warranted.
Symptom 4: Constant lower abdominal pressure
New pelvic or lower-tummy pain or pressure that is not linked to your periods and happens on most days (more than 12 times a month) deserves evaluation, especially in women over 40 or with a family history of breast/ovarian cancer.
When to act
Any one of these symptoms that is new for you and happens more than 12 times a month (on most days) is a reason to see a gynaecologist. The first tests are usually a pelvic ultrasound and a CA-125 blood test. Most women with these symptoms do not have ovarian cancer — but for the few who do, finding it at an earlier stage usually makes treatment more effective.
For evaluation in Ahmedabad, contact Dr. Nishtha Tripathi Patel on WhatsApp +91 76988 00333. External: NCI Ovarian Cancer Information. See also: Ovarian cancer overview and 10 hidden signs of ovarian cancer.
FAQs
Is ovarian cancer hereditary?
Around 15–20% of ovarian cancers are linked to inherited mutations, most commonly BRCA1 and BRCA2. If a first-degree relative had ovarian or breast cancer, genetic counselling is reasonable.
What does CA-125 tell me?
CA-125 is a tumour marker that can be elevated in ovarian cancer. It is not specific (it rises in endometriosis, fibroids, infections, pregnancy) and not very sensitive in early disease. It is used together with imaging. Most labs treat a level below 35 U/mL as normal, but check your report’s own range.
Should I have routine ovarian cancer screening?
Population screening for low-risk women is not recommended (no test has shown mortality benefit). Women at high genetic risk may be offered targeted surveillance or risk-reducing surgery.
Can I share my reports for a remote review?
Yes — WhatsApp scanned reports to +91 76988 00333. Dr. Nishtha reviews and responds within 24–48 hours about whether further evaluation is needed.
Where is ovarian cancer surgery done in Ahmedabad?
Dr. Nishtha performs ovarian cancer surgery at Sterling Hospitals (Sindhubhavan), KD Hospital and Welcare Speciality Hospital. Robotic surgery and HIPEC (heated chemotherapy, garam chemo) are done only at Sterling Hospitals and KD Hospital; Welcare offers open and keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. See our dedicated Sterling page.
Reviewed by Dr. Nishtha Tripathi Patel, MBBS, DGO, DNB, Fellowship Gynaecological Oncology, ESGO-certified. For consultations: WhatsApp +91 76988 00333.