Community Views: Advice for Those Newly Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer

Hearing the words "you have ovarian cancer" is life-changing, to say the least. It's hard to just hear the words but it's also hard to learn how to navigate this new diagnosis. To help better understand how others have dealt with the initial news of their diagnosis we turned to our Facebook community and asked them: "What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer?"

Here's what they had to say.

Don't give up

"Don't give up!" It's a saying we are all familiar with and heard over and over again, especially in this fight against cancer. Our community members echoed this sentiment over and over again. We know an ovarian can diagnosis can feel overwhelming but "there's always hope."

When things do feel overwhelming our community members suggest "taking a deep breath and taking it one day at a time." They also say "not be afraid to share exactly what is going on with family and friends." Even though it can be hard to ask for help and share what is going on, your family and friends can be a great support system. They can "help you out with meals, rides, cleaning, and just hand-holding more than you know."

"Stay positive, attitude is 99% of this journey." It's easier said than done but this community of teal sisters is here to uplift you and keep you going. So, "stay strong, be positive, and don't give up!"

Be your own advocate

Our community members also stressed the need to "be your own health care advocate." Ovarian cancer is hard to diagnose because its symptoms can be related to so many other conditions. Community members have shared over and over again the difficulty in getting diagnosed because of their symptoms being dismissed. In addition, there is also no early detection for ovarian cancer. Because of this, it's important to be your own best advocate!

Don't google!

After receiving an ovarian cancer diagnosis, there is the curiosity to find out more about it. With so much information at our fingertips, it's easy to google and find information about ovarian cancer. While doing this can be many of our first instincts, many of our community members suggest "staying away from google." One community shared "don't google, I had my only panic attack after doing that. Information is outdated & changing all the time." It's important to find trustworthy and accurate information. While you can find good information online, make sure to do your due diligence when it comes to that information and not believe everything you read online.

Find a good oncologist

Lastly, another piece of advice that was echoed over and over again by our community members is the need to find a "find wonderful oncologist." They said to "find an oncologist that you like and trust" and to "make sure you have a gynecologist oncologist on board." Finding a good oncologist is so important for the treatment and management of ovarian cancer and your overall wellness. If you haven't found an oncologist you trust don't be afraid to get a second opinion. Other communities added, "keep all your records and get 2nd and 3rd opinions."