What is Ovarian cancer?
The ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal malignancies are collectively “ovarian cancer”. The malignancies have similar treatment because they are closely related to one another.
Certain cancers start when healthy cells in these regions transform and increase out of control. They then produce a mass known as a tumour. A tumour may be benign or malignant. Malignant refers to the ability of a cancerous tumour to develop and metastasize to different body regions. If a tumour is benign, it can enlarge but won’t spread.
An ovarian cyst is abnormal tissue growth on the ovary’s surface. It can happen during a typical menstrual cycle and typically go away independently. Cancer is not present in simple ovarian cysts.
According to recent studies, high-grade serous cancers account for most ovarian/fallopian tube cancers. The disease usually begins at the fallopian tubes’ tip or outer end. It then spreads to the ovaries’ surface and can expand further.
Suggestions based on recent research
Given this new information, several medical professionals advise against tying or banding fallopian tubes for contraception (to prevent future pregnancy) to reduce the risk of ovarian/fallopian tube cancer. When a patient has surgery for a benign ailment and does not wish to become pregnant, some doctors also advise fallopian tube removal. This approach might lessen the likelihood that these malignancies will spread.
Under a microscope, the majority of these illnesses resemble one another because the ovaries’ surfaces, the fallopian tubes’ lining, and the peritoneum’s covering cells are the same sorts of cells. Rarely peritoneal cancer can appear after removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Some peritoneal malignancies, like ovarian cancer, can start in the fallopian tubes and progress from the tube’s end into the peritoneal cavity.
What is Survivorship?
It is problematic because “survivorship” can signify different things to different people. Typical definitions comprise:
- Being cancer-free after treatment is complete.
- I am surviving cancer and moving past it. This definition states that cancer survival starts with diagnosis and lasts throughout treatment and the remainder of a person’s life.
Some people prefer to use other words to explain and describe their experience since the word “survivorship” does not feel right to them. Prolonged treatment may be employed for months or years to manage or control cancer. The medical staff can assist you in managing the difficulties that come with living with cancer indefinitely. Each person must choose how to identify and overcome the problems and changes brought on by their cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Dealing with your emotions
Survivors could feel various emotions, including fear, remorse, excitement, worry, and relief. Some claim that receiving a cancer diagnosis has made them more grateful for life and accepting of who they are. Others experience extreme worry about their health and uncertainty about how they will handle daily life. You might still have moments of fear and anxiety as time passes, but these feelings shouldn’t pervade everyday living. Talk to a member of your healthcare team if they continue.
When their frequent visits to the medical staff come to a stop after receiving treatment, survivors could experience some worry. People often miss this form of support because their relationships with the cancer care team give them a sense of stability during treatment. This may be particularly true as additional anxieties and difficulties develop over time, such as any unanticipated side effects of treatment, mental difficulties such as recurrence anxiety, concerns about sexual health and fertility, and problems at work and in the financial world.
Every survivor has unique worries and difficulties. Knowing your worries and being able to discuss them is a significant first step with any problem. For effective coping, you need the following:
- Recognizing the difficulty you face.
- Considering potential remedies.
- Requesting and accepting help from others.
- Having confidence in the path of action you select.
Joining a local support group or online community of survivors is beneficial for many survivors. Thanks to this, you can converse with folks who have had comparable first-hand experiences. A friend or member of your healthcare team might be an excellent place to start, as can individual therapy or asking for help in the learning resource centre of the facility where you had treatment.
Getting a new perspective on your health
Survival acts as a powerful motivator for lifestyle modifications for many people.
People undergoing treatment for ovarian/fallopian tube cancer are urged to adhere to accepted standards for good health, such as quitting smoking, consuming alcohol in moderation, eating a healthy diet, exercising frequently, and managing stress. Your strength and vitality can be restored with regular exercise. Your medical team can assist you in developing a suitable exercise regimen depending on your requirements, physical capabilities, and fitness level.
To maintain your health, it’s critical to undergo suggested medical examinations and tests. Consult your medical team to create a survivorship care plan that best meets your needs.
The changing role of caregivers
Friends and family can go through transitional times. A caregiver is crucial in providing daily or as-needed physical, emotional, and practical support when someone has been diagnosed with cancer. Particularly if the course of treatment is prolonged by several months or longer, many caregivers become focused on offering this support.
The caregiver’s role frequently changes once treatment is completed. The requirement for caregiving resulting from the cancer diagnosis will eventually diminish significantly or cease.
