Slide 1
What to do if they just diagnosed ovarian cancer
Here you will find the steps you should take if you received that diagnosis recently
Slide 2
Remember that you are not the only
More than 20,000 women will receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer this year.
With the passage of time, better treatments have reduced mortality rates, since 43% in 1976.
Slide 3
Find the correct medical provider
- Ask for a reference to your gynecologist or your header or use the DOCTORS OF OVARIAN CANCERCH ALLIANCE (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance) (OCRA).
- Research indicates that if a gynecological oncologist performs your surgery that will improve your clinical outcome.
- Look for a second opinion. Don’t be shy: Doctors expect patients to do that with any serious diagnosis.
Slide 4
Get information related to ovarian cancer
There are several different types and stages of ovarian cancer. Identify what type and cancer stage you have so you can investigate and understand your illness.
Be sure to use reliable websites such as those of CDC (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control), NIH (National Institutes of Health), Medical Magazines and ask your medical care provider questions from what you learned.
Slide 5
Be proactive
Obtaining information related to therapeutic options will be useful for you to work collaboratively with your medical team. Doctors are experts of cancer, but only you know your preferences, needs and your body.
A decision -making with your team will empower you to actively participate in your care.
Slide 6
Sométte to genetic and biomarker tests
It is possible that the results reveal information related to cancer that could be useful for your medical team to identify which treatments are most effective for you.
These results could also be important for you to participate in clinical trials, if that is appropriate.
Slide 7
Get information about common treatments
Treatment usually implies surgery and chemotherapy. Your doctor could recommend surgery to remove one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes and the uterus. Ask your doctor about options that allow you to get pregnant in the future if you need to do it. Chemotherapy could be applied through injections, infusions in the abdomen during surgery or orally.
Slide 8
Get information about the most recent treatments
The directed pharmacology attacks identified weaknesses of cancer cells. Hormonal therapy drugs block the effects of estrogen on cancer cells and immunotherapy take advantage of your own immune system to combat cancer. Ask your doctor if any of these options should be used in your therapeutic plan.
Slide 9
Ask questions related to clinical trials
Clinical trials develop and test new treatments for cancer. To have access to the most advanced therapies, you can look for clinical trials using the Internet through virtual tools such as the OCRA clinical trial explorer or talk to your doctor to guide you.
Slide 10
Get support
Do not forget your mental health. A cancer diagnosis can be devastating. Finding support attending meetings of support groups, speaking with a therapist and receiving help from friends and family can be useful.
Accepting help is an important part of taking care of yourself.
Funds
Resources of the National Ovaraian Cancer Coalition (National Coalition against Ovarian Cancer) Assistance Services of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA)
Tool for the search for doctors of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA)
Share Cancer support groups
This educational resource was prepared with the support of Daiichi Sankyo and Merck.