Ovarian cancer: An update for nursing practice

Abstract

A diagnosis of ovarian cancer is a crisis for any woman. Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of all the gynaecological cancers. In addition to the very real threat of death, such a diagnosis raises critical issues concerning femininity, motherhood and sexuality. The high mortality associated with this disease is due (in part) to problems associated with early diagnosis. Women frequently experience non-specific symptoms, which may be attributed to other, less alarming causes. The lack of specific symptoms experienced by women, as well as the lack of effective mass screening strategies, make early detection difficult. This makes it crucial that nurses involved in the care of women be alert to the insidious and non-specific onset of this serious condition.

Importance of xeroderma pigmentosum group D polymorphisms in susceptibility to ovarian cancer

“…Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all gynaecologic cancers because it is seldom diagnosed at an early stage, when the likelihood of remission is greatest [1]. In this way, it is very important to define the factors concerned in the carcinogenesis of ovarian cancer, trying to help to an early detection of this disease.…”

Embodied Changes and the Search for Gynecological Cancer Diagnosis

“…Wooldridge 1999). The latter two cancers, and other gynecological cancers including vulval and vaginal cancers, are more difficult to detect, and the absence of effective screening strategy renders the reduction in mortality more challenging (Anderiesz and Quinn 2003;Berek 1992;Mannix et al 1999).…”