Women who receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis face unique needs. As the deadliest reproductive cancer, ovarian cancer brings its own set of fears, and patients tend to go through longer periods of active and recurring treatments.
The risk of recurrence, longer treatment and the sexual side effects associated with ovarian cancer can contribute to many long-term psychosocial issues in women with the disease. By addressing these needs both during and after treatment, gynecologists can provide invaluable support to patients with an ovarian cancer diagnosis throughout this difficult time.
Addressing Patients' Needs Following an Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
"Ovarian Cancer: Evolving Paradigms in Research and Care," published by The National Academies Press, noted that there is less information available to women with an ovarian cancer diagnosis than those dealing with other cancers, which hurts their quality of life and survivorship. What types of information and support do patients need? Physicians can help improve these patients' quality of life by providing resources and guidance around the following five areas.
1. Specific Disease Details
The U.K. National Collaborating Centre for Cancer's clinical guidance, titled "Ovarian Cancer: The Recognition and Initial Management of Ovarian Cancer," noted that women want information about the disease, including the potential effects on their mental, physical and sexual health. They may get some of this from their oncologist or nurse navigator, but it's not always enough.
In particular, patients seek to understand treatment options and what effects they may have. Because ovarian cancer is often caught at later stages, women usually have a limited amount of time to make treatment decisions, and they must decide before they've had a chance to fully process the implications. Any help physicians can provide during this process can go a long way.
2. Sexual Health Counseling
Women with ovarian cancer face a range of sexual health issues. At diagnosis, young women may need counseling and fertility preservation information early on, but this can be challenging when they are faced with the need to make treatment decisions quickly. Working with your patient's cancer care team, you may be able to help coordinate referrals to services or offer advice and counseling in your office.
Ovarian cancer patients may face sexual health issues for years after treatment. Gynecologists are poised to answer questions and provide treatment options for symptoms such as vaginal dryness, pain during sex or loss of sex drive. You can also offer counseling or refer patients to behavioral health or couples counseling when they struggle with relationships. By being prepared to have these conversations and gently prompting women who seem shy about opening the discussion, you can help improve your patients' quality of life.
3. Treating Side Effects
Peripheral neuropathy, abdominal issues, fatigue, pain and other symptoms can persist long after treatment ends. Women may have some access to their cancer team, but much of the support they had during active treatment fades away once it's complete. In addition, some patients feel uncomfortable bringing up certain side effects. A patient may worry about complaining too much and convince herself that the pain or fatigue she is experiencing is manageable.
Developing strong, trusting relationships with your patients can encourage them to be open about the side effects they experience. Let them know that there are treatments available to address these side effects and that they do not need to resign themselves to a lower quality of life.
4. Genetic Counseling
Many women are concerned about the possibility of passing down ovarian cancer genes to their children. Be prepared to discuss genetics or to refer patients to genetic counselors for help deciding whether to undergo testing or explore other options.
5. Supporting Healthy Lifestyle Changes
Diet, exercise, smoking cessation, behavioral health services and other healthy lifestyle choices can help women with ovarian cancer reduce the risk of recurrence and manage some of the side effects associated with treatment and the condition itself. Follow up with your patients during regular appointments to develop plans for healthy eating and exercise. Doctors can further support patients through an ovarian cancer diagnosis by providing referrals to counselors, smoking cessation programs or other services that help patients lead healthier lives.
A gynecologist is an integral member of the care team for a woman who faces an ovarian cancer diagnosis, and you will be the primary physician who supports her long after she has completed her active treatment. By understanding what your patient must go through and what services she needs access to, you can position yourself to better support her throughout the ovarian cancer survivorship journey.
