By Sandra Ray, Staff Writer
Focusing on the patient and their need to make
sense of their prognosis and treatment is only one
role that the caregiver can play during treatment.
There are several others. These can include support,
research, communicating with physicians, and helping
decide next steps, especially if the cancer recurs.
Since ovarian cancer is silent with only few
symptoms present in the initial stages, caregivers
may experience the same types of frustration as the
patient who encounters a diagnosis of advanced
ovarian cancer. Getting rest and respite for the
caregiver is much-needed and often encouraged by
doctors who are working with the patient.
A positive treatment team can make a tremendous
difference in the patient’s outcome. While gains
have been made with regard to the success in
treating ovarian cancer, there is still much work
that needs to be done. Communicating with the
treatment team all symptoms and managing
expectations of therapy can contribute to a
patient’s definition of success at any point in the
process.
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