When women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, there are many uncertainties and overwhelming doubts they are surrounded by. Many questions surround women as they are affected by ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer initially affects the ovaries, which are the reproductive organs of women; the cancer cells in the ovaries start to spread off to other parts of the body. Though ovarian cancer seems complicated to treat at first glance, with proper care, treatment, and support, ovarian cancer becomes manageable with time.
You can only reduce the impact on emotional and physical well-being with proper care. Getting enough rest and adequate care can minimize the side effects of ovarian care, like nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.
Properly exercising and eating balanced and nutritious food can help you regain strength and give you the energy you need to continue fighting cancer cells.
This detailed guide will include self-care tips you can incorporate into your life to help improve your health.
Importance of Self-Care During Ovarian Cancer
For faster recovery, it is essential for you to take care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
This is important because when patients are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, their body is already under a lot of stress. It can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and HIPEC surgery.
Here are some of the significant points why you should take care of yourself when diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
- Self-care improves your body’s ability to handle the side effects of ovarian cancer. As multiple side effects of ovarian cancer keep draining your body, it is essential for patients to take proper care of their bodies. To do this, they need to eat balanced and nutritious food that would help them restore their energy, get enough rest, and keep themselves hydrated.
- Ovarian cancer also affects your emotional well-being, and it puts patients through a lot of stress. To overcome this issue, doing stress-relieving exercises like yoga and meditation or even taking deep breaths once in a while is enough. This will help in calming your mind and making you feel more relaxed. In addition, it is important to talk and address your feelings with your loved ones. This will help you feel less lonely and isolated.
- Doing a moderate level of exercise can minimize the effects of fatigue and tiredness. This is also effective in improving your mood. It is recommended to at least take short walks or light stretching that would help you stay fit and boost your energy level.
- Always have an optimistic approach, and never pounder about negative thoughts that would significantly impact your body. Always have a positive attitude even in challenging times like ovarian cancer.
- One of the side effects of ovarian cancer is pain. This could happen pre-surgery or post-surgery. To manage this, taking necessary medicines or pills will reduce the discomfort or pain caused by ovarian cancer. Even standard pain management techniques like hot baths and massages can reduce pain and discomfort to some level.
- Monitoring symptoms and hacking regular checkups are also essential for your well-being. Always communicate with your doctor if you feel something is off. This will help in taking preventive measures as soon as possible.
- Ovarian cancer patients also suffer from depression and anxiety. It is vital to take care of your mental health. To achieve this, patients can spend time with their families or do things they like.
How is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed Early?
Detecting ovarian cancer in the early stage is tough, with many misleading early signs because it is even harder to diagnose ovarian cancer as these subtle symptoms are often diagnosed as minor health problems.
This delays treatment, which ultimately affects ovarian cancer survival rate. However, considering early symptoms of ovarian cancer can help in detecting it.
- The first early detection of ovarian cancer is persistent abdomen bloating that does not go away. Moreover, in some cases, patients feel full even after eating in small quantities. Some may also experience pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvis. This is also an early symptom of ovarian cancer.
- Apart from feeling full just after a few bites, ovarian cancer also makes it difficult for patients to swallow their food or digest it. Some may also see changes in bowel movements or an increase in urination.
- Another early sign that would help in detecting ovarian cancer in the early stage is when patients suddenly gain or lose weight without doing anything. In addition, ovarian cancer patients also end up feeling more fatigued even after taking plenty of rest. Some other signs of early detection include back pain, pain during intercourse, and changes in the menstrual cycle.
Also Read >> Diet Tips for Ovarian Cancer Patients
Self-Care Tips to Manage Side-Effects of Ovarian Cancer
For quick recovery, it is vital to know how you can manage the effects of ovarian cancer effectively. Here are some of the self-care tips you can use to manage the effects of ovarian cancer.
1. Pain management:
After surgery, many women often end up in a lot of pain, especially after HIPEC treatment. To alleviate this pain, you can take some medications that can reduce the pain. Even breathing exercises can also help reduce pain and discomfort. With that, make sure you are not wearing tight-fitted clothes that would cling to your surgical incision; always opt for loose clothes. This would prevent any irritation. Moreover, use a pillow when sitting or lying down.
2. Managing fatigue:
Always make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and rest. Gentle and moderate exercise will help you feel more energetic. In addition, eating balanced food helps your body recover faster.
3. Digestive issues:
After ovarian cancer surgery, patients often have problems with digestion, which makes many of them feel more nauseous and bloated. To deal with this, it is better to be on a fluid diet in the initial stage. This will help your body digest food easily rather than eating solid food. To prevent constipation, keep your body hydrated. Lastly, eating meals during breaks while maintaining their quality small will reduce digestion issues.
4. Infection prevention:
To prevent inflection, always keep your surgical wound clean and make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions on cleaning and dressing the wound; this would reduce the chances of inflection. Avoid heavy lifting as it can put a strain on surgical wounds. Also, keep an eye on any signs, like sudden redness, swelling, etc, around your wound; if you happen to notice such symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.
5. Surgical scars:
Oftentimes patients end up with surgical scars to deal with this; once your wound is healed completely apply anti-scar cream that would reduce scar visibility.
6. Blood clot prevention:
to prevent blood clots frequently move your legs and feet. This would reduce the chances of blood clots. In addition, compression stockings can even minimize the risk of blood clots.
Conclusion
Taking care of your body and overall well-being is an essential step towards better recovery.
Incorporating small things like resting well, eating balanced food, exercising regularly, and having a positive mindset help your body and mind stay strong. Moreover, taking proactive measures to manage side effects will help heal your body quickly.
Dr. Aditi Bhatt is renowned as the best ovarian cancer doctor in Ahmedabad and has helped many ovarian cancer patients overcome this difficult journey.
If you have any concerns or questions, speaking to a healthcare professional with diverse experience and knowledge is always a good idea.
