Does palliative care treat ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer and its treatment can cause abdominal or pelvic discomfort, nausea, constipation, fatigue, appetite changes, sleep problems or emotional strain. Palliative care assesses these problems and helps create a plan that fits your daily life. It can also support people with advanced disease, but referral does not indicate that cancer treatment has stopped. The palliative team works with gynaecologic oncology and other services, while cancer-directed treatment addresses the disease.

Tell your oncology team which symptoms are hardest and what activities you want to keep doing. Ask about a palliative care referral, medicine review, help with constipation or nausea, nutritional support and counselling. If fluid in the abdomen, pain or pressure is affecting breathing, eating or movement, mention the change promptly. Keep an up-to-date medicine list and record when symptoms occur.

Seek urgent help for severe abdominal swelling with breathing difficulty, persistent vomiting, inability to pass stool or gas, sudden severe pain, fainting, heavy bleeding or new confusion. Fever during cancer treatment should be reported promptly because infection may need rapid assessment.

Ask which symptoms need same-day advice, how palliative care will coordinate with ovarian cancer treatment, and whom you should contact when symptoms change at home.