The Side Effects Of Treatments For Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a serious disease with irreversible consequences. Treatments for ovarian cancer can cause serious side effects that make the journey harder. In this article, we take a closer look at some of these consequences.

Treatments for ovarian cancer should always be performed by a qualified specialist to ensure that side effects are as minimal as possible. Yet such treatments often cause unpleasant side effects that are almost unavoidable, such as those we will discuss below.

Side Effects of Treatments for Ovarian Cancer

Surgical procedures

In this article, we’re going to talk about some of the discomfort, side effects, and consequences that women with ovarian cancer can face while being treated for this serious disease.

Effects of anesthesia

The anesthetic needed for all types of surgery can cause some side effects that are not necessarily serious, but they are uncomfortable and can cause problems in the short or medium term.

Some of the negative side effects that anesthesia can cause: 

• breathing problems
• heart problems
• formation of blood clots
• bleeding
• infections

Effects on the body

During the surgery, certain parts of the body are directly affected, such as the bladder, blood vessels, the intestines and the lymph nodes. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove the lymph nodes in the patient’s pelvis.

If this is the case, there is a risk that the lymphatic system may fail, which can then lead to lymphedema. This causes the legs to fill with fluid, leading to swelling.

Extreme Side Effects of Ovarian Cancer Treatments

Chances are that during surgery to remove any tumors, it will be necessary to remove small parts of the abdominal organs, such as the intestines. It may also be necessary to remove part of the liver, gallbladder, or spleen.

Unfortunately, it is also possible that the operation will cause the woman to become infertile. If the woman would like to have children, she should therefore consider fertility preservation before her operation. This will ensure that she has viable eggs for a future pregnancy.

Effects of Chemotherapy

The side effects of chemotherapy generally depend on the medication used.

Common Side Effects

• Complete or partial hair loss.
• Excessive fatigue.
• Bleeding and infections caused by a loss of red blood cells.
• Anemia.
• Nausea, vomiting and watery stools (diarrhoea).
• Canker sores and a loss or change in taste.
• Cramping or tingling due to damage to the peripheral nerves.
• Mild pain in the ears and muscles.
• Red, dark or inflamed skin.

Less common side effects

• Blurry sight.
• Low bloodpressure.
• Stomach ache.
• Allergic reactions.
• Headache or migraine.

Effects of radiation

The effects of radiation and chemotherapy can cause the same symptoms. However, patients undergoing radiation are also at risk for digestive problems.

Natural Ways to Reduce the Side Effects of Ovarian Cancer Treatments

When faced with a degenerative disease like cancer, we can happily turn to nature. Nature offers us all kinds of means to make medicines that are very useful.

Certain foods and herbs are therefore excellent for reducing some of the side effects of ovarian cancer treatments.

Now let’s take a look at some of these foods and medicinal plants.

1. Mint tea

The antioxidant properties of mint tea boost your immune system and help your body prevent and fight diseases such as ovarian cancer. In addition, it is also excellent for calming an upset stomach,  one of the most common symptoms of this disease.

Ingredients

• 7 to 10 mint leaves (1 g)
• 1 cup of water (250 ml)
• Honey or lemon juice to taste

Preparation

• First, bring the cup of water to a boil.
• When the water is boiling, add the mint leaves.

• Then remove the pan from the heat and let the leaves steep for a while.
• Finally, add some honey or lemon juice to taste.
• You can drink this tea at any time of the day. However, it would be best to at least drink a cup in the morning.

2. Shiitake mushrooms

These mushrooms contain beta-glucan, among other things, a substance that studies seem to show that it can inhibit certain types of cancer. Shiitakes are widely eaten in Japan, where they are also used to treat ovarian cancer and other diseases.

Ingredients

• 12 fresh shiitake mushrooms
• A bunch of spring onion (200 g)
• Sea salt
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil (15 g)
• 1 small cup romaine lettuce
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (30 ml)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (30 ml)
• ½ tablespoon mirin (rice wine) (7.5 g)

Preparation

• First cut the caps of the shiitakes into strips.
• Then finely chop the spring onions and season them together with the mushrooms with some sea salt.
• Then place the mushrooms and onions on a grill or fry them until the mushrooms are golden brown.
• Then mix the liquid ingredients together to make the sauce.
• Wash the lettuce and then drain well.
• Then tear the leaves into pieces.
• Finally, stir everything together in a large salad bowl.