Ovarian cancer is a serious disease that comes with physical, emotional and medical challenges. A patient diagnosed with ovarian cancer usually faces many worries, feelings and concerns that make their lives more difficult. By getting and learning more information to understand ovarian cancer, she can more easily cope with the challenges of living with the disease. Getting the right information about one's diagnosis of ovarian cancer is important in managing the physical as well as emotional challenges brought by the disease's treatment and recovery program.
Diagnosis
For the patient, the worst part of the diagnosis is actually hearing the doctor confirming that she has ovarian cancer. Many patients will remain in a state of shock, while others immediately begin asking their doctors about treatment.
Treatment
There are three main forms of treatment for ovarian cancer. Surgery (removal of cancerous tissues), chemotherapy (the use of anti-cancer drugs) or radiotherapy (the use of high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells) may be recommended. The recommended treatment depends on the diagnosed stage and grade of the disease, histopathologic type, and age and overall health of the patient. To optimize the benefits of treatment, a patient may undergo a combination of the three treatment methods. Ovarian cancer treatment is usually scheduled two to three weeks after diagnosis.
Physical and Emotional Changes
The greatest challenge faced by an ovarian cancer patient could be the physical and emotional changes that come right after treatment. Many of these changes, such as the loss of uterus or fertility or temporary baldness, are difficult to cope with for they affect the way patients feel and think about themselves. The abrupt changes to their appearance and physiology affect their self-esteem and ability to relate to other people. For married patients or patients living with partners, their sex life will surely be affected. Emotions and behavior are a large part of a cancer patient's state of being, so there are also treatment programs that include behavioral and/or lifestyle coaching, as well as participation in a support group setting to help patients live normal lives even with their ovarian cancer.
Recovery
A person who has undergone surgery should spend the their time resting and exercising to hasten the healing process of surgical wounds. Along with medications, rest and exercise is important in relieving common side effects such as pain, limited range of movement, and chronic tiredness or weakness. To avoid complications, patients who have undergone surgery are warned against carrying heavy loads, doing heavy housework like vacuuming, and driving. In addition, eating right and maintaining proper hydration during cancer treatment provides the patient with the calories she needs to maintain her strength while combating the side effects of cancer treatment.
More on Recovery
One way of managing the psychological stressors brought on by cancer treatment methods, patients should keep regularly talk to her counselor or attend local ovarian cancer women support groups. This can help patients achieve a kind of normalcy amidst the drastic emotional and physical changes caused by the ovarian cancer and its treatment methods.
It takes time for a patient to recover physically and emotionally from treatment. After treatment, a woman is bound to experience side effects, psychological stressors, and intimacy and related issues. By building a strong support system with her family, friends and attending physicians, she can more easily cope and live with the challenges brought about by ovarian cancer.
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