Lower back pain may be one of the signs or symptoms of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is not generally symptomatic until its advanced stage, so it can be very difficult to treat. If you are experiencing lower back pain, especially if combined with other symptoms of ovarian cancer, it is essential to speak with a doctor. Lower back pain may also be a sign that the ovarian cancer has spread or metastasized to the bone. Finally, certain drugs used in the treatment of ovarian cancer may cause lower back pain.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
While late stage ovarian cancer is more likely to cause lower back pain, even early stage ovarian cancer can cause this condition. Other symptoms to be aware of include bloating, loss of appetite, a feeling of being too full, a feeling of always having to go to the bathroom, pain in the pelvis or abdomen, fatigue, constipation, pain during sex, and/or irregularities in the menstrual cycle. While back pain and the other symptoms may have a benign cause, it is important to tell your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms to rule out ovarian cancer.
How Common is Back Pain
Back pain is a very common symptom of ovarian cancer. According to a study by Baptist Health Systems, as many as 90 percent of women diagnosed with early stage ovarian cancer reported having either stomach or pelvic pain, bloating or back pain.
Diagnosis
In order to determine whether your back pain is associated with ovarian cancer, and to determine whether you have ovarian cancer, the doctor may perform several tests. He may begin with a pelvic exam (feeling the vagina, uterus, ovaries, Fallopian tube and rectum). He may also take an ultrasound (use high frequency waves to create sound echoes that create a picture of the ovary which displays abnormalities). A CA-125 assay, which is a special blood test used to measure tumor size, may also be taken.
Metastases and Back Pain
In addition to being a symptom of primary ovarian cancer, back pain may also be a symptom that the ovarian cancer has become Stage IV Ovarian Cancer. Pain in the bones of the lower back may signify that the cancer has metastasized or spread to the bone. When cancer metastasizes (becomes Stage IV), the cancer cells spread to unrelated parts of the body, including the bone. Bone metastases can cause pain, as well as bone fractures.
Back Pain as a Result of Treatment
Once you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and have begun treatment, the treatment itself may cause lower back pain even if you were not experiencing such pain before. Cyclophosphamide is one drug that is used to treat ovarian cancer. Its purpose is to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It is administered either intravenously or in pill form. Pain in the lower back is a common reported side effect from Cyclophosphamide.
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