Support for Ovarian Cancer

I have just been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Do you know the best ways to keep strength up and any recommended nutritional foods

I look forward to your response

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There,

there are many ways. Each person who experiences a cancer has their own coping mechanism that feels right to them. So some options are realy helpful to some but not others.

I also suspect that many of the amazing people who read this forum have even better answers than me. I welcome other responses as well.

I would divide the potential answers into several sections.

I. Knowledge about ovarian cancer and knowledge about your own cancer.
Knowledge can be empowering
-I think it is hugely important for you to keep your own records of tests, surgeries, path reports, labs, xrays. I find that people who do that get better care. I always encourage my patients to be an equal member of their medical team.
-researching ovarian cancer can be very frigthening. It is important to try to focus on information that is relevant to you

II. Support Groups. Some people find that support groups are frightening because they meet people who are much sicker than themselves. Others find the love and exchange of information and support to be very improtant. There have been a few studies among breast cancer survivors that show that women who attended support groups had longer periods of remission and survival.

III Surround yourself with love and support. One of the hardest things is to ask for help. Yet I suspect that you like most people are surrounded by friends and families members who are just aching to do something for you but do not know what to do or what to say (because they are afraid they will say something dumb). You can gently assign tasks for different friends ranging from picking up the mail, helping with food shopping, coming to chemo sessions with you, getting rides. People want to help.

IV Spirituality: Depending on your faith tradition and personal menaing making - spiritual support is very strengthening

V Nutrition - I do not personally beoelve that there are certain majic foods. I think it is most improant to stay hydrated (which protects the kidneys from chemo side effects) and eat protein sources.  Many women have trouble with weight gain during chemo which is not good for one.

VI supplements - you will hear and see hundreds of suggestions for supplements, herbs, vitamins, etc. I see all these substances as uncontrolled medications. Many of them will interact with the chemo therapy meds. I strongly discourage my patients from adding other dietary additives during chemo. When chemo is over, a multivitamin with iron is reasonable. But there are alot of opinions and very little data.

best wishes

[BeaBug]

what othe nutritional foods and ways to survive ovarian cancer