Treatment Overview

(continued)

continued...

If you are interested in palliative care, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to manage your care or refer you to a doctor who specializes in this type of care.
For more information, see the topic Palliative Care.
Complementary therapies
In addition to conventional medical treatment, you may wish to try complementary therapies to help manage your symptoms. But complementary therapies are not a substitute for conventional medical treatment that is recommended for ovarian cancer. Complementary therapies include:

• Acupuncture.
• Herbs.
• Biofeedback.
• Meditation.
• Yoga.
• Visualization.
• Vitamins and nutritional supplements.

Before you try any of these therapies, discuss their possible benefits and side effects with your doctor. Let him or her know if you are already using any such therapies. For more information, see the topic Complementary Medicine.

What To Think About

Some women with ovarian cancer may be interested in participating in research studies called clinical trials. Clinical trials are designed to find better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the most up-to-date information. Women who do not want standard treatments or are not cured using standard treatments may want to participate in clinical trials. These are ongoing in most parts of the United States and in some other countries, for all stages of ovarian cancer.
Most treatments for ovarian cancer cause side effects. The side effects that you have depend on the type of treatment used, your age, and your overall health. Your doctor can talk to you about your treatment choices and the side effects associated with each treatment.

• Side effects of chemotherapy may include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, or hair loss.
• Side effects of surgery depend on how much surgery was done to treat the stage of your cancer.

Nausea and vomiting are side effects of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Your doctor can prescribe medicines to control nausea and vomiting.Talk to your doctor about what to expect and when you should call if you are having nausea or vomiting. Home treatment measures can also help you manage other side effects of treatment.

End-of-life issues

Some women with advanced-stage cancer may choose not to have treatment focused on prolonging life because they decide that for them the time, costs, and side effects of treatment are greater than the benefits. Making the decision about when to stop medical treatment aimed at prolonging life and shift the focus to end-of-life care can be difficult. For more information, see the following topics:

Care at the End of Life

Hospice Care