Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. Most women have
chemotherapy for ovarian cancer after surgery. Some women have chemotherapy
before surgery.
Usually, more than one drug is given. Drugs for ovarian cancer can be given
in different ways:
By vein (IV): The drugs can be given through a thin tube inserted into a
vein.
By vein and directly into the abdomen: Some women get IV chemotherapy along
with intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy. For IP chemotherapy, the drugs are given
through a thin tube inserted into the abdomen.
By mouth: Some drugs for ovarian cancer can be given by mouth.
Chemotherapy is given in cycles. Each treatment period is followed by a rest
period. The length of the rest period and the number of cycles depend on the
anticancer drugs used.
You may have your treatment in a clinic, at the doctor's office, or at home.
Some women may need to stay in the hospital during treatment.
The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on which drugs are given and
how much. The drugs can harm normal cells that divide rapidly:
Blood cells: These cells fight infection, help blood to clot, and carry
oxygen to all parts of your body. When drugs affect your blood cells, you are
more likely to get infections, bruise or bleed easily, and feel very weak and
tired. Your health care team checks you for low levels of blood cells. If blood
tests show low levels, your health care team can suggest medicines that can help
your body make new blood cells.
Cells in hair roots: Some drugs can cause hair loss. Your hair will grow
back, but it may be somewhat different in color and texture.
Cells that line the digestive tract: Some drugs can cause poor appetite,
nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth and lip sores. Ask your health care team
about medicines that help with these problems.
Some drugs used to treat ovarian cancer can cause hearing loss, kidney
damage, joint pain, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. Most of these
side effects usually go away after treatment ends.
You may find it helpful to read NCI's booklet Chemotherapy and You: A Guide
to Self-Help During Cancer Treatment.
You may want to ask your doctor these questions about chemotherapy:
When will treatment start? When will it end? How often will I have treatment?
Which drug or drugs will I have?
How do the drugs work?
Do you recommend both IV and IP (intraperitoneal) chemotherapy for me? Why?
What are the expected benefits of the treatment?
What are the risks of the treatment? What side effects might I have?
Can I prevent or treat any of these side effects? How?
How much will it cost? Will my health insurance pay for all of the treatment?
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled, sac-like structures within an ovary. Causes of ovarian cysts are numerous. Symptoms of an ovarian cysts may be pain in the belly or pelvis. Treatment of an ovarian cysts depends on type of cyst.
Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity is most commonly caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Some of the other causes of ascites include portal hypertension, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and pancreatitis. The most common symptoms include increased abdominal girth and size, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on the cause of ascites.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
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