Do you know the daily care precautions for ovarian cancer patients?

Ovarian cancer is a serious gynecological malignancy that poses a major threat to women's health. Due to its hidden nature and easy recurrence, ovarian cancer is often called the "silent killer." According to statistics, the 5-year survival rate of early ovarian cancer can reach more than 80%, while the 5-year survival rate of late ovarian cancer is around 30%. As the saying goes, 30% treatment and 70% care. For ovarian cancer patients, in addition to accepting the treatment plan prescribed by the doctor, daily care is equally important.

1. Symptoms of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, so it is often ignored. Symptoms of advanced ovarian cancer are more obvious, such as abdominal pain, lumps, loss of appetite, indigestion, frequent and painful urination, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, fever, etc.

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2. How is ovarian cancer treated?

Before explaining the precautions for daily care, we must understand the treatment methods for ovarian cancer so that more effective care measures can be taken. Surgery is the most commonly used treatment for ovarian cancer. If ovarian cancer metastasis occurs, radiotherapy will be used to kill cancer cells using high-energy rays. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment that can kill cancer cells and inhibit their growth. In addition, targeted therapy and hormone therapy are also commonly used methods.

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3. Daily care considerations for patients with ovarian cancer

3.1 External image care

A beautiful appearance can help patients rebuild their confidence in treatment, especially women, who experience dramatic psychological changes after cancer. Some patients experience changes in their appearance, such as hair loss and skin color changes during radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which have a serious psychological impact, so external image care is very necessary. Patients should pay attention to personal hygiene, wash and comb their hair or wear wigs every day. Some patients will have their nails fall off during chemotherapy, so they should also cut their nails frequently. During treatment, pay attention to skin moisturizing and apply some skin care products. Patients' families should encourage patients to pay attention to external image care and provide them with necessary support.

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3.2 Moderate exercise

Exercise helps to improve physical fitness and enhance immunity. Some patients have been bedridden for a long time after becoming ill, and have problems such as muscle atrophy, limited joint movement, and constipation, which can be improved through exercise. It is best for patients to do some light exercise every day, such as going out for a walk. If the physical condition is not good, you can ask your family to massage your body and do some passive exercises. The patient's family should accompany the patient, and if the patient wants to go out for a walk, the family should also accompany him. For bedridden patients, they should be turned over more often, massage their limbs, and encourage them to do some active exercises themselves. For patients with good physical fitness and ideal recovery, the best way to exercise is "team exercise", calling three or five friends to run and walk together, which can effectively improve the mood and maximize the effect of exercise.

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3.3 Fall prevention

Patients are relatively weak after surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and are more likely to fall when getting out of bed to go to the toilet or move around. If the patient is conscious, he should pay attention to his physical condition. If he feels weak, he can ask a nurse or family member for help when getting out of bed to go to the toilet, and use a walker if necessary. The patient's family should assist the patient. If the patient needs to get out of bed, the family should accompany the patient, let the patient sit by the bed for a while, and then get out of bed after the condition stabilizes. If the patient's gait is unstable, you should take the initiative to help, or get a wheelchair or walker for the patient. Non-slip mats should be placed by the patient's bed and in the bathroom to prevent the patient from falling.

3.4 Psychological care

A bad mental state will affect the prognosis of ovarian cancer. Many patients always have a "dying feeling" after suffering from cancer, and lose confidence in life, so they are unable to recover, and the treatment effect of the disease is not very good. Therefore, patients must pay attention to adjusting their mental state. If you feel that you are depressed recently, you should take the initiative to go outdoors and breathe fresh air. You can also divert your attention by reading, listening to music, and doing handicrafts. The patient's family should also pay attention to observe the patient's emotional expression. If you feel that the patient is depressed, does not speak for a long time, and has an indifferent expression, you must take the initiative to communicate and communicate with the patient. You can contact the patient's friends to chat with her, which can effectively improve the patient's mood. Family members should avoid hiding the patient's condition from the patient. Women are more delicate and prone to suspicion, which increases the psychological burden of the patient. Family members can take a step-by-step approach to gradually tell the patient about the condition and treatment progress to help them build confidence in treatment.

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3.5 Diet care

Ovarian cancer patients will experience symptoms of loss of appetite during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Some patients may experience redness, swelling, and ulceration of the oral mucosa and digestive tract. The pain is severe every time they eat, so patients are unwilling to take the initiative to eat. Family members should encourage patients to eat as much food as possible at this time, and pay attention to adjusting the diet structure, increasing the intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, and dairy products, and replenishing nutrition for patients in time. Spicy and fried foods are absolutely not allowed. If the patient has no appetite, family members can change the dishes and use a variety of cooking methods to increase the color, aroma and taste of the food. However, it is best for patients to eat more easily digestible foods, and try to use steaming, boiling, and stewing cooking methods. If the patient's physical condition is relatively stable, family members can make some medicated food for the patient, and use food supplements to help the patient supplement nutrition and regulate body functions.

3.6 Pain care

Ovarian cancer patients will experience pain problems in the late stage, which has a great impact on the patient's quality of life and psychological state. On the one hand, family members should create a warm and comfortable living environment for the patient, clean the living room every day, ventilate regularly, and change bedding. If conditions permit, some green plants can be placed in the room to purify the air and regulate the mood; on the other hand, the doctor may prescribe analgesics for the patient, and family members should remind the patient to take the medicine on time and in the right amount, and not to overdose. Massage can also relieve pain, and family members can give the patient a massage.

3.7 Daily Care

Ovarian cancer patients have low immunity and need to take good care of themselves in daily life. First of all, pay attention to hand hygiene. Our hands often come into contact with some unclean objects, so we should wash our hands frequently. Especially patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy are prone to phlebitis, which causes itchy skin. Ignoring hand hygiene may lead to skin infection; secondly, when changing seasons, be sure to pay attention to the weather forecast and prepare to add or remove clothes in advance. Especially in autumn and winter, many patients catch colds in this season, increasing the risk of infection. In autumn and winter, avoid frequent entry and exit of crowded places, and wear medical masks when necessary. If the patient has fever symptoms, the patient is likely to have an infection and must seek medical treatment in time to avoid delaying treatment. Family members should usually urge patients to go to bed on time, go to bed early and get up early, and avoid staying up late. If the patient has difficulty falling asleep, he can listen to music, read books, and drink a glass of hot milk before going to bed. If these measures do not improve sleep disorders, you can consult a doctor and give the patient some sleep aids.

3.8 Regular review

Generally, after effective treatment, the condition will be controlled, but this does not mean that ovarian cancer has been completely cured. Patients still need to follow the doctor's instructions and return to the hospital for regular checkups. Generally, in the first 1-2 years after the end of treatment, return to the hospital for a checkup every three months, and in the third and fourth years, every 4-6 months. From the fifth year onwards, check once a year. During this process, if any abnormal symptoms occur, go to the hospital for treatment in time.

The above are the daily care precautions for ovarian cancer patients. Through reasonable care, the patient's prognosis can be improved and survival can be prolonged.