Receiving an ovarian cancer diagnosis can be a scary and challenging experience, and we are here to help you navigate this journey. OCAOSW provides support, information, resources and most of all hope.
We have exceptional volunteers, including a community of women who have gone through, or are still going through, the challenges of dealing with this disease. We are here for you through all stages of ovarian cancer.
Contact us at 877-682-2679 or by email at info@ovariancancerosw.org.
Because you can have all the support in the world; friends, family, but everyone doesn’t know quite what to say. I think it’s so valuable to have someone on the other end of the phone or across the table that knows what you’ve been through.
Hearing that you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer is quite a shock! You feel frightened. You might feel like you are having a nightmare and want to wake up. You feel alone. As survivors, we felt that way, too. But what we have learned is that you are not alone.
Start thinking of your healthcare providers as your “team.” They will do everything possible to fight your disease, so learn to communicate with them. If you feel that you can’t communicate with your health care “team”, find a team that listens to you. This is important! Find local Gynecological Oncologists.
Learn about ovarian cancer. The unknown is usually much more frightening than knowing who your enemy is. Once you start learning about the disease, you may start feeling less “out of control.”
Be gentle with yourself when researching ovarian cancer on the internet. Some women have been unduly frightened by reading ovarian cancer web pages. Remember that statistics reflect many people; they can’t predict how the individual will do. As an individual, your chances of being in the “good results” group as good as anyone else! Also, some statistics are outdated; the 5-year survival data continues to improve.
This might mean family, friends or other survivors. Sometimes those closest to us are too upset to support us in the way we need them to. This is where encouragement from other survivors might come in handy. Consider a support group or the on-line community of survivors to help you. Another option to consider is making an appointment with a professional mental health practitioner. Anyone with a new cancer diagnosis is going to face an intense emotional roller coaster. Many social workers, psychologists and counselors specialize in issues related to cancer. Also helpful for many of us is medication to help get through these difficult times. Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication can be very useful to regain some sense of equilibrium. Don’t be ashamed to ask your physician about it.
Another area to research is complementary medicine. Complementary therapies are defined as adjuncts to surgery and chemotherapy. Many women have been helped through the rigors of chemotherapy by practitioners of acupuncture, naturopathy, and massage. However, always discuss any complementary treatment with your doctor first.
Try not to think too far ahead. It’s easy to say this, but it does help. Thinking too far ahead, especially when you don’t know all the ins and outs of ovarian cancer and its treatment, isn’t helpful. Focus on the “now” and how you can take care of yourself in the moment. Believe it or not, you will get your life back. Yes, it is forever changed, but you will feel much different than you feel now.
We know you are facing a different set of challenges than a woman who might be diagnosed later on.
Read personal stories of women who share the impact diagnosis has had on their lives.
There are numerous opportunities to connect online and in-person, hosted by different organizations.
