Being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is a shock to the system - both the mind and the body. Living with it is difficult and challenging. At first, just accepting that fact seems like an impossible task. Your mind races with thousands of thoughts - the biggest is "Why Me?" And the stark reality is that no one knows!

Apart from having to cope with the physical and medical challenges, women with ovarian cancer face additional worries, feelings, and concerns that can make life all the more difficult. Help is needed in coping with the emotional aspects of this disease. Don't be afraid to ask for or seek this help.

Dealing and coping with the emotional burden of having ovarian cancer is a part of a patient's treatment plan. The support of a health care team (doctors, nurses, social workers), support groups, patient-to-patient networks and family, can help women feel less isolated, distressed and can improve the quality of their lives. Cancer support groups provide an environment where cancer patients can talk about living with cancer with others who may be having or have been through similar experiences.

Cancer patients, and those who care about them, face many issues, problems and challenges they had never imagined. Coping with these problems is easier when they have helpful information and a network of support services.

They may worry about holding their job, caring for their family, or just keeping up daily activities. There are the additional worries about tests, treatments, hospital stays, and the medical bills. Form a special "health care team" to begin the journey through this difficult time. Enlist the help of the doctor, nurses, etc., to help answer questions about treatment, working, or daily activities. Meeting with a social worker, counselor, or member of the clergy also can be helpful to patients who want to talk about their feelings or discuss their concerns about the future or about personal relationships.

Don't forget to include friends and relatives, especially those who have had personal experience with cancer, in this support team. Find a local cancer support group and meet with others who are facing the same or similar problems. Cancer patients often get together in support groups, where they can share what they have learned about cancer, its treatment, and about coping with the disease. It is important to keep in mind, however, that each patient is different. Treatments and ways of dealing with cancer that work for one person may not be right for another - even if both have the same kind of cancer. It is always a good idea to discuss the advice of friends and family members with the doctor.

A social worker at the hospital or clinic can suggest groups that help with rehabilitation, emotional support, financial aid, transportation, or home care. The American Cancer Society has many services for patients and families. Local offices of the American Cancer Society are listed in the white pages of the telephone directory.

In addition, the public library has many books and articles on living with cancer. The internet has thousands of information sites that can assist in guiding you to the information that you need. The "Helpful Links" site below offers many links to helping you through this time in your life.

If you are a newly diagnosed patient or family member living in Nevada, we offer a "Patient Care Package" - free of charge. This package includes:

A video of an interview with 4 women who are dealing with ovarian cancer

A booklet about ovarian cancer

A meditation audio tape

Brochures on local (Nevada) and national resources

A cancer survival tool box

And assorted documents

We will be glad to help you in your beginning journey to coping with and surviving ovarian cancer.

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Monthly Support Group Meetings
OCAN has a monthly support group open to anyone whose life has been affected by ovarian cancer....survivors and family members or caring ones. We meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 PM. Please call (702) 796-0430 for information and/or directions.