Seeking support and information after an ovarian cancer diagnosis

Daiara Martins’ 29^th birthday was far from what she had imagined. Instead of celebrating with family and friends, she was undergoing surgery to remove one of her ovaries – the first step in her cancer treatment journey.

Just weeks earlier – shortly before Martins was supposed to graduate with her master’s degree – her world shifted when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After experiencing belly pain for about a week, Martins decided to seek medical attention. While her care team initially thought her pain was due to constipation, an ultrasound revealed a mass on her right ovary.

Some commonly presenting symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, belly pain and frequent urination. However, these symptoms may also be caused by other non-ovarian cancer conditions. So, it's important to talk to your doctor if the symptoms are persistent and a change from normal.

"Only about 20% of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage. When ovarian cancer is found early, about 94% of patients live longer than 5 years after diagnosis," notes the American Cancer Society. Ovarian cancer is rare in young women. About half of women who are diagnosed are age 63 or older.

Following her diagnosis, Martins had to make decisions about her treatment very quickly.

"A lot of things were happening at the same time in my personal life and professional life," she said. "I had to pause and think about the next steps."

Martins was given the option to have a hysterectomy to help reduce the risk of recurrence, but she made the difficult decision to only remove one ovary and undergo fertility treatment to preserve her ability to potentially have children in the future.

"One day in the future, I would need to decide if I would want to be a mom or not, and I was 28 years old, I wasn't thinking about that yet," she said.

Finding support after diagnosis

Martins’ diagnosis drastically changed her life.

Her sister, classmates and friends helped her throughout her treatment journey. She also found support through CancerCare, a leading national organization providing support services and information to help people manage the emotional and practical challenges of cancer.

CancerCare social worker and Women’s Cancers Program Coordinator Sam Fortune shared that many women face physical and emotional challenges during and after treatment, including struggling with their identity, life changes and other stressors, such as anxiety.

“Going through ovarian cancer is a very difficult time. A diagnosis may lead to feelings of loss, hopelessness and low self-esteem. It can also feel isolating when people may not understand what a patient is going through,” Fortune said.

She recommends that patients seek support through counseling, support groups, or assistance from social workers or patient navigators. Fortune also encourages patients to be their own advocate by speaking up and asking questions to better understand their diagnosis and treatment plans.

Potential importance of biomarker testing

Following an ovarian cancer diagnosis, many patients feel overwhelmed with questions, including: Why did this happen to me? What happens next? What treatments are right for me? As patients consider the questions they have for their care team, Fortune advises appropriate patients to ask about biomarker testing.

Cancer biomarkers are measurable genes, proteins or other substances that can be tested to help better understand a person's disease. “Testing for biomarkers may help a patient's care team further understand the cancer and may help them identify potential treatment options,” Fortune said.

Martins’ doctor recommended biomarker testing to learn more about her cancer and what treatments may be right for her. She said she found the process empowering and appreciated having a better understanding of her treatment options.

“It was valuable because it gave me more information and helped me and my care team determine what to do next,” Martins explained.

Establishing open communication with your care team

Martins hopes that by sharing her story, she can encourage others to advocate for their health and not be afraid to ask questions throughout their treatment journey.

“Be patient and trust your gut,” she said, "and speak up if something doesn't feel right."

Fortune added that health care professionals also have a role to play. “It’s important to provide the space for patients to feel comfortable asking questions,” especially when it comes to discussing biomarker testing and treatment options.

To learn more about the importance of biomarker testing following a cancer diagnosis, visit ‎Merck.com.

Members of the editorial and news staff of Paste BN Network were not involved in the creation of this content.