Treatment Overview

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Home treatment measures may help relieve some of the common side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, stress, or sleep problems.

If both of your ovaries are removed, you are likely to experience menopausal symptoms after surgery. Home treatment measures may relieve some of these symptoms. If home treatment does not help your menopausal symptoms, talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your symptoms.

If you have recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may experience a wide variety of emotions in reaction to having cancer. Most women feel some denial, anger, and grief. There is no "normal" or "right" way to react to having cancer. You can take steps to manage your emotional reactions to learning that you have ovarian cancer. Some women find that talking with family and friends is comforting, while others may need to spend time alone to understand their feelings about their cancer.

If your emotions are interfering with your ability to make decisions about your health and to move forward with your life, it is important to talk with your doctor. Your cancer treatment center may offer counseling services. You may also contact your local chapter of the American Cancer Society to help you find a support group. Talking with other women who have had similar feelings after being diagnosed with cancer such as yours can help you accept and deal with your cancer.

What to think about during initial treatment

In about 70% of women with ovarian cancer, the cancer has already spread (metastasized) outside the pelvis by the time it is diagnosed.¹⁷ Advanced-stage cancer spreads most commonly to the lining of the abdominal cavity, the pelvic lymph nodes, and the fatty tissue around some of the abdominal organs.

Your long-term outcome depends on your age, the stage and grade of your cancer, and the amount of cancer remaining after your initial surgery.

Your quality of life becomes a critical issue when considering your treatment choices. Be sure to discuss your personal preferences with your oncologist when he or she recommends treatment.

You 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.

For more information about specific ovarian cancer treatments, see the topics:

Ovarian Cancer – Health Professional Information [NCI PDQ].

Ovarian Cancer – Patient Information [NCI PDQ].

Ongoing treatment

After initial treatment for ovarian cancer, it is important to receive follow-up care. Your emotional reactions may continue throughout the course of your treatment, depending on your prognosis, the treatment methods used, and your quality-of-life decisions.