This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about some common forms of cancer and what can be done about them. Ovarian cancer has been called a “silent killer” because there aren’t many obvious symptoms until the disease is in its later stages — often after it’s too late for treatment to be effective.

But Dr. John Schorge, a gynecologic oncologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says there are early symptoms for ovarian cancer. The problem is that they’re also very common symptoms for a lot of other problems. Symptoms to look out for include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms like frequency or urgency. If you have these symptoms daily for more than a few weeks, see a doctor. It may not be cancer, but it’s best to know as soon as possible if it is.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/obgyn to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in Gynecology and Obstetrics.