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Discharge Instructions for Ovarian Cancer

Cancer is the out-of-control growth of cells. They can make it hard for nearby, healthy tissue to work as it should. Cancer can also spread to other parts of the body.

Ovarian cancer starts and grows in the ovaries. It may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted and hormonal therapies.

Steps to Take

Further Evaluation

Ovarian cancer is staged from 1 to 4. Stage 1 cancer is only found in a small, local area. Stage 4 cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Tests will find the stage of cancer and other traits. These may affect how it is treated. You may need:

  • Biopsies—tissue samples are taken and tested
  • Tests to look for certain markers in your genes or hormones
  • Imaging tests—to see the tumor and how much it has spread
  • A peritoneal wash—a saline wash to flush out cells in the belly to be looked at in a lab
  • Colonoscopy—to look for cancer in the colon or rectum
  • Surgery—to look inside the pelvis and belly, and check nearby lymph nodes

Treatment Options

Treatment options will depend on the stage and type of cancer, your age, and your health. It often involves more than one method. This may mean:

  • Surgery—to remove the tumor and any lymph nodes with cancer
  • Radiation therapy—to shrink tumors, treat the cancer, or destroy cancer cells
  • Chemotherapy—drugs to kill cancer cells
  • Targeted therapies—medicines that attack certain parts of cancer cells and block their growth
  • Hormonal therapies—to block the effects of hormones like estrogen, which help certain cancers grow

Other Steps That May Help

Cancer and cancer treatment can cause a range of symptoms. To help manage them:

  • Balance rest and activity.
  • Exercise—as advised by your doctor.
  • Eat a balanced, healthful diet.
  • Find ways to ease stress.

If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit.

Support

A cancer diagnosis can be stressful. Seek support from your family and friends. Cancer counselors and support groups may also help.

Follow-up

Your care team will need to check on your progress. Be sure to go to all advised appointments.

Problems to Look Out For

Call your doctor if you are having problems managing symptoms or you have:

  • Abnormal or excessive bleeding from the vagina
  • Signs of infection such as fever or chills
  • Excessive bleeding, redness, swelling, or drainage at the incision site
  • Pain that you cannot control with the medicine
  • Pain or swelling in your legs
  • Pain or problems passing urine
  • Lasting nausea or vomiting
  • Cough or problems breathing

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

American Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.org

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
https://www.acog.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Cancer Society
 https://www.cancer.ca

Women's Health Matters—Women's College Hospital
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca

REFERENCES:

Laparotomy. Better Health Channel website. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/laparotomy. Accessed May 5, 2021.

Ovarian cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/ovarian-cancer. Accessed May 5, 2021.

Ovarian cancer. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/ovarian-cancer. Accessed May 5, 2021.

Ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer treatment (PDQ)—patient version. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/patient/ovarian-epithelial-treatment-pdq. Accessed May 5, 2021.

Patient education: teaching the patient with cancer. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Accessed May 5, 2021.

Last reviewed March 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Nicole Meregian, PA