Welcome to Giddy's series for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Each week, we will tackle a different aspect of ovarian cancer and shed light on common misconceptions. This week, let's take a look at testing and treatment.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Life After
Living a full life post-ovarian cancer is possible.
Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the ovaries multiply rapidly and form a tumor. It ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, and the American Cancer Society estimates that this year, about 21,410 women will receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis and about 13,770 women will die from ovarian cancer.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and Giddy is here to help walk you through everything you need to know about this disease. In this final week, we're taking a look at life after ovarian cancer treatment and what to expect during recovery.
True or False: The recovery time for ovarian cancer generally takes six to eight months.
False. While recovery from ovarian cancer varies because the diagnosis and physical impact it has on each patient differs, the timeline of recovery is generally similar and most recovering patients should expect this period to last between six and eight weeks.
You may be eager to get back to your regular daily routine, but your body requires healing time before reintroducing actions such as driving, working, performing chores, bathing, exercising, preparing meals and sexual activity. For a smoother recovery, have a supportive community ready to assist you as needed.
True or False: Ovarian cancer patients are three times more likely to be diagnosed with mental health disorders after diagnosis.
True. Researchers at the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute found "that ovarian cancer patients were more than three times more likely than the general public to be diagnosed with mental health disorders in the first two years after their diagnosis. During those first couple of years, depression, anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder all posed a risk that was three times higher than for people who did not have ovarian cancer."
Because of this, it's important to stay in tune with your mental health and take note of how your cancer has impacted your well-being. Make plenty of time for self-care, stress relief and relaxation. And cut yourself a break; cancer is a terrible burden, and you are no less of a person for stumbling along the way. Last, don't be afraid to reach out for help. Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) offers a number of resources, including oncological social workers, survivor support groups, an online community and more.
True or False: Ovarian cancer patients are three times more likely to be diagnosed with mental health disorders after diagnosis.
True. Researchers at the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute found "that ovarian cancer patients were more than three times more likely than the general public to be diagnosed with mental health disorders in the first two years after their diagnosis. During those first couple of years, depression, anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder all posed a risk that was three times higher than for people who did not have ovarian cancer."
Because of this, it's important to stay in tune with your mental health and take note of how your cancer has impacted your well-being. Make plenty of time for self-care, stress relief and relaxation. And cut yourself a break; cancer is a terrible burden, and you are no less of a person for stumbling along the way. Last, don't be afraid to reach out for help. Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) offers a number of resources, including oncological social workers, survivor support groups, an online community and more.
True or False: After beating ovarian cancer, your doctor will most likely recommend a long-term care plan.
True. To screen for cancer and increase the likelihood of detecting a recurrence early, your doctor will recommend a survivorship care plan, a long-term plan of follow-up care and other recommendations to maximize your odds of staying healthy.
This typically includes frequent pelvic exams for five or more years and additional follow-up screenings, including transvaginal ultrasounds and blood tests. Ongoing treatment, such as hormone therapy, may be ordered.
Unfortunately, recurrence remains a real possibility for all women. The likelihood of recurrence varies based on the individual, the type and location of cancer, treatment and the body's response to it, and other factors. Average recurrence for stage I, II, III and IV ovarian cancers is 10, 30, 70 to 90, and 90 to 95 percent, respectively. Your doctor will explain your individual recurrence risk, how it is calculated and what you can do to minimize it.
True or False: A healthy sex life isn’t possible after ovarian cancer.
False. No matter which kind of ovarian cancer treatment you undergo, whether surgery or chemotherapy, a healthy sex life is possible. A sex therapist or couples counselor can help you adjust back to sexual activity, and undergoing pelvic rehabilitation can allow you to relax your vaginal muscles and feel comfortable during intercourse. Investing in a good lubricant can help remedy any vaginal discomfort or dryness, and joining a support group is a good way to see what has worked for other women.
Sex after ovarian cancer is possible—you just have to take your time and listen to your body. Communicating with your partner can make this time easier for both of you, and finding other ways to maintain intimacy will go a long way toward keeping both of you happy as you recover. With some patience, you will be able to resume your normal sex life once you're ready.
True or False: New treatments and research into preventing ovarian cancer recurrence and improving outcomes are on the horizon.
True. New research has identified cutting-edge methods that may help reduce the chance of recurrence and improve outcomes for ovarian cancer patients, including the use of PARP inhibitors to prevent cancer cells from repairing their DNA after treatment. There is a new compound called 673A, which, in a study using mice, inhibited the ALDHA pathway, blocking cancer stem cells (untouched by chemotherapy) from turning into a new tumor.
There's also a new vaccine in development meant to prevent the recurrence of ovarian cancer by training the body's immune system to recognize, attack and kill ovarian cancer cells. And researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern have "recently discovered a potential 'Achilles' heel' in ovarian cancer cells, and a new biomarker that may open up more avenues for targeted therapies."
These treatments are still in trials, but in a few years, the threat of ovarian cancer recurrence could be greatly diminished.
