Ovarian Cancer Pain Management & Control
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Pain Management for Ovarian Cancer
Many ovarian cancer patients arrive at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) experiencing side effects, such as pain, from previous treatments. Our cancer pain management practitioners take as much time as needed to fully understand your condition. We assess your pain using a variety of tools, including pain management scales and symptom tracking methods. We also really listen, so we’re able to locate your pain and take the appropriate steps to manage it.
For ovarian cancer patients, we treat pain that results from a variety of causes, including side effects from surgery or chemotherapy, as well as pre-existing health issues, such as headaches or stomach aches. Your pain management practitioner will develop a customized cancer pain control plan based on the other medications you are taking, and the medications that have worked in the past, if any.
We also help you address any side effects that ovarian cancer treatment may have on your sexual function, such as pain, vaginal dryness or low libido. You’ll meet with our cancer pain management team individually or with your partner to discuss solutions. Our Survivorship Support program also helps you address any intimacy concerns once you have completed treatment.
A Team Approach to Treating Ovarian Cancer Pain
Throughout your care, your pain management practitioner will constantly reassess your pain. We use a pain management scale, which tells us how you function throughout the day. Then, we alter your treatment regimen accordingly.
We also want you to be able to continue daily activities as normally as possible. Your pain management practitioner will adjust your medications to seek a balance between cancer pain control and quality of life.
The CTCA pain management team is fully integrated with the other disciplines offered at the hospital. In addition to medication, your cancer pain management regimen may include one or more of our supportive therapies:
- Naturopathic medicine uses natural therapies to help you combat pain, as well as reduce the hormonal side effects that may accompany ovarian cancer treatment.
- Oncology rehabilitation plays a key role in pain management by using a variety of physical therapy and other techniques to improve mobility and trigger the release of endorphins, which are the immune system’s natural defense against pain.
- The mind-body medicine team is available to teach you relaxation tools to help you manage pain, and to reduce the anxiety and fatigue related to cancer or cancer treatment.
For patients staying at the hospital, “Comfort Rounds” are conducted twice weekly. During these visits, pain management practitioners thoroughly evaluate your current pain level and how your current treatment approach is working, and make any necessary modifications to your treatment plan.
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