Having ovarian cancer can affect your daily life during and after treatment.
Recovering from surgery
Surgery to treat ovarian cancer is a major operation. It can take up to 3 months to recover.
Get plenty of rest for the first 2 weeks at least.
You can start to return to your normal activities in the following weeks. But be careful to not do too much too soon.
Your care team will tell you about anything you need to avoid while you recover.
They might tell you to:
- take 1 to 3 months off work
- avoid driving for around a month
- avoid strenuous lifting or intense exercise for at least 3 months
A physiotherapist may design an exercise plan to help your recovery.
If you still have periods, having your ovaries removed causes early menopause.
Your doctor may suggest taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This is to control any menopausal symptoms.
HRT may be recommended until the natural age of menopause of around age 52. When you stop may depend on your symptoms and situation.
Follow-up appointments
After your treatment is finished, you'll need regular check-ups to see how you're doing.
These are usually every 3 months to begin with. But they often become less frequent over time.
These appointments are a chance to talk to your care team about any problems you're having.
It's common for ovarian cancer to come back within a few years of finishing treatment. You may have regular blood tests and scans to check for this.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if any of your symptoms return after treatment. Do not wait until your next appointment.
Help and support
Dealing with cancer can be a huge challenge for you and your family and friends.
Talking to someone about your feelings or problems can help.
It may help to:
- talk to your care team or GP - they may be able to arrange professional support such as counselling
- speak to your family and friends - be open about how you feel and what they can do to help
- get in touch with a cancer support group or charity - many have local groups where you can meet other people
Living with cancer - help and support
Cancer support services
There are cancer support centres in most local communities. They provide support services for cancer patients, their families and carers.
These include:
- counselling and psychological support
- manual lymphatic drainage
- physical activity programmes
- survivorship programmes
- complementary therapies
More information
You can get information on all aspects of ovarian cancer from:
Sex and fertility
Having treatment for ovarian cancer can affect your sex life and fertility.
Your sex life
You'll probably be told to avoid having sex for a few weeks after surgery. This is so your wound has time to heal.
You may not feel like having sex for a while because of:
- menopause
- tiredness
- stress - from having a cancer diagnosis and treatment
Talk to your partner about how you feel and do not pressure yourself into having sex too soon.
Fertility and pregnancy
For some women, treatment for ovarian cancer triggers an early menopause. This means they're no longer able to have children.
Talk to your care team if this is a concern for you. It may be possible to have treatment to preserve your reproductive tissues.
If you do lose your fertility, it's normal to experience a sense of loss or grief. Discuss your feelings with your partner, a close friend or your specialist nurse.
If you had chemotherapy and can get pregnant, you'll be advised not to get pregnant for a couple of years. This is in case the cancer comes back and you need further treatment.
Bone health
For most women, treatment for ovarian cancer causes early menopause. After menopause your levels of oestrogen decrease. Oestrogen is a hormone that helps protect your bone strength. After menopause women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, or weak bones that are at risk of fracture.
Early menopause from cancer treatment increases your risk of developing weak bones (osteoporosis).
It is important that you:
- have a calcium-enriched diet
- take vitamin D supplements
- have an x-ray of your bones (DEXA scan) to check their strength
You may need another DEXA scan a few years later as osteoporosis develops over time.
There are medicines that can improve your bone strength if you develop osteoporosis. Your GP can discuss these with you.
Money and benefits
You may have to reduce your hours or stop working due to your cancer. This can have an impact on your finances and you may find it difficult to cope.
Find out as soon as possible what help is available to you.
Welfare and supports - cancer.ie
If your cancer cannot be cured
Sometimes treatment will not cure your cancer. Your team will focus on controlling your symptoms. They may involve the palliative care team in the hospital or at home.
The palliative care doctors and nurses are experts in controlling symptoms such as pain or nausea. Palliative care may begin a long time before end-of-life care.
Palliative care also includes psychological, social and spiritual support for you and your family.