Originator: Sarah Homer, Oncology Clinical Nurse SpecialistDate: September 2012

Version: 2Date for Review: September 2015

DGOH Ref No: DGOH/PIL/00731

Ovarian CancerGynaecologyPatient Information Leaflet

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Ovarian CancerThis information is for women who have been diagnosed withovarian cancer. Hopefully it will answer some of your questions,helping you and the people around you to understand and manageyour illness and alleviate some of your fears.

You may wish to discuss some aspects with your doctor orspecialist nurse. Your specialist nurse is available to help andsupport you, feel free to ask for more information. The contactdetails are at the end of this leaflet.

Causes and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

How does cancer of the ovary develop?

Ovarian cancer usually affects women over the age of 45, though itcan occur in younger women. It usually affects women who havereached the menopause (the change).

We do not know the exact cause of ovarian cancer. However, it isslightly more common in women who have not had children. Thereis evidence to suggest that women who take the contraceptive pillare less likely to develop this sort of cancer. An inherited gene inthe family causes a small number of ovarian cancers. Women whohave had breast cancer have an increased chance of developingovarian cancer. This is because the same faulty gene can causeboth types of cancer.

Cancer support specialists are available Monday to Friday,9am-8pm. Calls are free from all UK landlines and mobiles.E-mails can be sent via the website www.macmillan.org.uk

Ovacome - Tel: 020 7380 9589www.ovacome.org.uk

Ovarian Cancer Action - Tel: 020 8238 7605www.ovarian.org.uk

Target Ovarian Cancer - Tel: 020 79235470info@targetovarian.org.ukwww.targetovarian.org.uk

Cancer Research UK - Tel: 0808 800 4040You can ring on free phone, 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk

NHS Direct - Tel: 0845 4647 www.nhsdirect.nhs.ukCalls taken 24hrs a day, 365 days a year.

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If you have several close relatives who have had ovarian, breast orbowel cancer this could mean there is a faulty gene in your family.

If you are concerned about this subject you can talk to your GPabout your family history and they can advise if seeing a geneticcounsellor or specialist would be helpful. Also Macmillan CancerSupport has useful leaflets and information about this.

What are the symptoms?

Unfortunately most women with cancer of the ovary have vaguesymptoms and the disease may be advanced before a diagnosis ismade. Some symptoms may include:

Loss of appetiteVague indigestion, nausea, bloatingSwelling of the abdomenPain in the lower abdomenVaginal bleeding - although this is rare

Diagnosing Cancer of the Ovary

A full medical history will be taken and a number of other tests maybe carried out before a definite diagnosis can be made. This willinclude a physical examination including a vaginal examination.

The doctor may arrange an ultrasound scan, chest x-ray and bloodtest including a tumour marker CA125. All these investigations willbe explained to you.

Further Information is available from:-

Russells Hall Hospital Switchboard Telephone 01384 456111

Sarah HomerMacmillan Gynae Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist Telephone: 01384 244355

NHS approved information to support you and your family isavailable via www.nhs.uk.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/ips to create your own personalisedInformation Prescription.

Local Support Groups:

Gynae Cancer Support GroupMeets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 2pm. at Cancer Support, The White House, 10 Ednam Rd, Dudley. Tel 01384 231232www.support4cancer.org.uk

National Support

Macmillan Cancer Support Tel: 0808 808 2020www.macmillan.org.uk

The multidisciplinary team of specialist doctors and nurses meet ona regular basis to discuss each patient's case. A separate leaflet isavailable about the multidisciplinary team.

Treatment for Ovarian Cancer

The treatment that you will have for your cancer will depend on thetype and extent of the cancer, as well as your age and other healthproblems that you may have - also, very importantly, what yourwishes and preferences are too.

You will be seen in an outpatient clinic to discuss the results ofinvestigations and your treatment. It can be difficult to take all theinformation in at once so it may be helpful to have family memberor friend with you. We encourage you to ask as many questions asyou wish and discuss any worries with your doctor or nurse.

As a general rule treatment options are based around surgery andchemotherapy, either as individual treatments or a combination oftreatments. The best option for you will be decided by yourconsultant following discussion with you.

Surgery

This is often a total hysterectomy, this involves removing thewomb; the neck of the womb (cervix); both fallopian tubes, bothovaries and also the pad of fat from the abdomen called theomentum. This operation is sometimes called a Total Abdominal

Hysterectomy, Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH BSO).

This operation involves about 3 to 4 days in hospital, but everybodyis different. Everything that is removed as part of the operation issent to the laboratory for analysis. This is to give the doctors more information. This can then be usedto help decide if any further treatment is required.

In some cases surgery may not be possible. In such circumstanceseach case is assessed on an individual basis and it will bediscussed with you.

Surgery may be performed at Russells Hall Hospital or at NewCross Hospital Wolverhampton, but your Consultant will discussthis with you.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is drug treatment which can be used to destroy orcontrol cancer cells. It is usually given through a drip (into a vein)but occasionally will be given as tablets.

You may be referred to an Oncologist who is a consultant whospecialises in cancer treatments. The treatment is given on theChemotherapy Unit at Russells Hall Hospital as an outpatient. It isusually given once every 3 weeks for 6 to 8 treatments. Thechemotherapy can be given before or after surgery, and yourmanagement plan will be discussed with you before treatmentbegins.

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