Myth: There are no early symptoms of ovarian cancer. Fact: There are symptoms and early warning signs for ovarian cancer, according to David O’Malley, MD, director of the OSUCCC – James Division of Gynecologic Cancer. “I think this myth comes from the fact that most of the symptoms are changes in the abdominal system — changes in bowel or bladder habits, having to go more frequently and more urgently, bloating and pressure — that can be symptoms of indigestion or other digestive system problem that we all have from time to time when we eat too much or foods that don’t agree with us,” O’Malley says. Because digestive issues are so common, many people dismiss these symptoms, thinking they’ll go away with time. And many primary care physicians don’t initially link them to the possibility of ovarian cancer. “If the problem passes in a few days, that’s fine,” O’Malley says. “But if it persists for several weeks or longer and seems to be getting worse, or if the symptoms occur more days than not, that’s a sign you need to get it checked out. We’re working to educate primary care physicians and OBGYNs so they’ll order the appropriate scans. There are a lot of other diseases that can cause these symptoms, so if they persist, it’s important to have it checked out so that we diagnose a gynecologic cancer in the earlier stages when it’s more treatable.”