Quality-of-Life Issues in Patients With Ovarian Cancer and Their Caregivers:

Abstract

After completion of this article, the reader should be able to outline the current data on QOL issues in patients with ovarian cancer, and to describe potential working definitions of QOL.

Caring for women with ovarian cancer in the last year of life: A longitudinal study of caregiver quality of life, distress and unmet needs

“…Notably, caregiver age was not related to outcomes in either model. This is a significant concern not only for the caregivers themselves, but also because 343 these caregivers are so vital to supporting the patients, and reinforces previous studies 344 that have shown that caregiving has a real toll on caregivers [1]. 345 346 Distress and needs increased over time, but social support remained constant.…”

“…Ovarian cancer places a particularly significant burden on patients and their family 91 members, due to its high mortality rate and complex, prolonged, multimodal treatments 92 [1]. It is a disease characterised by multiple recurrences and many lines of chemotherapy, 93 with decreasing duration of benefit over time.…”

“…Family members are often called upon to provide emotional and practical support, and 96 physical care [1]. Caregivers often feel unprepared for this role [1], and can also 97 experience financial stress if unable to maintain income-generating activity, existential 98 distress and anxiety related to future uncertainty [1].…”

“…Caregivers often feel unprepared for this role [1], and can also 97 experience financial stress if unable to maintain income-generating activity, existential 98 distress and anxiety related to future uncertainty [1]. Studies have documented higher 99 levels of distress and poorer quality of life in caregivers compared to controls, and 100 significant needs for informational, practical and emotional support [2].…”

“…Optimism has previously been shown to be associated with improved quality 377 of life [23] and even survival, but has primarily been explored in relation to patient, 378 rather than caregiver, outcomes. Caregivers often use a wide array of coping behaviours 379 in response to the stress encountered [1], and the place of optimism amongst this array 380 requires further research. 381 382 Interestingly, the patient being on treatment was not associated with decreased caregiver 383 QOL, reinforcing the findings summarized by Le et al [1].…”