Ovarian Cancer (cont.)
Sources of support
Learning you have ovarian cancer can change your life and the lives of those
close to you. These changes can be hard to handle. It is normal for you, your
family, and your friends to have many different and sometimes confusing
feelings.
You may worry about caring for your family, keeping your job, or continuing
daily activities. Concerns about treatments and managing side effects, hospital
stays, and medical bills are also common. Doctors, nurses, and other members of
your health care team can answer questions about treatment, working, and other
activities. Meeting with a social worker, counselor, or member of the clergy can
be helpful if you want to talk about your feelings or concerns. Often, a social
worker can suggest resources for financial aid, transportation, home care, or
emotional support.
Support groups also can help. In these groups, patients or their family
members meet with other patients or their families to share what they have
learned about coping with the disease and the effects of treatment. Groups may
offer support in person, over the telephone, or on the Internet. You may want to
talk with a member of your health care team about finding a support group.
It is natural for you to be worried about the effects of ovarian cancer and
its treatment on your sexuality. You may want to talk with your doctor about
possible sexual side effects and whether these effects will be permanent.
Whatever happens, it may be helpful for you and your partner to talk about your
feelings and help one another find ways to share intimacy during and after
treatment.
For tips on coping, you may want to read the NCI booklet Taking Time: Support
for People With Cancer. NCI's Information Specialists at 1-800-4-CANCER and at
LiveHelp (http://www.cancer.gov/help) can help you locate programs, services,
and publications. For a list of organizations offering support, you may want to
get the NCI fact sheet "National Organizations That Offer Services to People
With Cancer and Their Families."
Next: What research is available for ovarian cancer patients? »
- cyclophosphamide, Cytoxan - Explains the medication cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), a drug used for the treatment of several types of cancers and often in combination with other drugs to treat breast cancer, leukemia and ovarian cancer.
- CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography, CAT scan) is a procedure that assists in diagnosing tumors, fractures, bony structures, and infections in the organs and tissues of the body.
- Abdominal Pain - Learn about abdominal pain (pain in the stomach / abdomen) including causes, symptoms, how abdominal pain is diagnosed, and how abdominal pain is treated.
Latest Medical News
Cancer RSS