Perspectives on living with ovarian cancer: young women's views

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Ovarian cancer, and its treatment, has a considerable effect on the quality of life of women diagnosed with the disease. Young women diagnosed with ovarian cancer must confront life-threatening illness at a time when many are in the midst of raising children, maintaining a household, and actively engaging in work and career activities. Very little has been reported about the perspectives of young women regarding their experiences with ovarian cancer. This article reports data from 39 women 45 years of age or less concerning the impact of ovarian cancer and its treatment as well as the availability of support. At the time of the study, the women were, on average, 38 years of age and approximately two-thirds were married and had children. About half of the women were working. The most frequently identified problems included side effects (n = 25), fear of recurrence (n = 25), and difficulty sleeping (n = 25). On average, women reported experiencing 10.4 problems since diagnosis. Of those who experienced problems, less than 50% perceived they had received adequate help. Approximately two-thirds of these women experienced a lifestyle change. Quality of life was rated significantly lower following their experience with ovarian cancer. Implications for oncology nurses emerge in areas of assessment, referral, and patient teaching.