Ovarian Cancer Support Group

I live in the uk, so am not best qualified to advise you on how to find a doctor in the US. It isn't unusual for doctors to stand back on the issues we face after cancer treatment. I assume you are having regular CA125 and follow up visits with your oncologist.

In the uk, I am expected to go to my GP with any side effects and he told me at the start that he has very little experience of OC, as is the case with most GP's. It is such a rare condition, but we learn together and he is very supportive. I imagine it might be difficult to find a general doctor with any great experience of this.. but you do need to find someone who you can get along with and that you can work with..

Depression is something that is always close on our tails here.. and we come up with all sorts of strategies to cope. Many of the ladies here do very well on medication. I find it helps to build lots of better things into my life and to avoid all the stress that I can. It isn't easy to deal with, but we do.. and best of all is the support and understanding we can give to each other. No one can understand what this is like unless they have been through it themselves..

So.. Hi and welcome to this group of wonderful women.. I really hope we can be of help to you.. and that you find this site as helpful as I have.. You are not alone in this and we are all here for you.. Wishing you the very best. Inka xxx

I, too, felt a real need for emotional help after treatment. I am now 15 months past diagnosis and actually started getting counseling through the employee assistance program (EAP) at the university where I work. My EAP counselor was great but after three visits she referred me to a counselor at the cancer center in the university's medical school. This new counselor has also been great. My diagnosis was post-traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. I'm really done with therapy now and just seeing her for follow-up. Therapy has been a tremendous help for me and I highly recommend it for anyone who is dealing with the issues this cancer diagnosis can bring.

I am not taking medication but, if I had needed it, my counselor is affiliated with a psychiatrist who would have prescribed it. I needed a referral (mine was from the EAP counselor ) for insurance purposes. I think you can ask your oncologist for a referral. I imagine you have a cancer center of some type in your area. Surely they have a counseling component. Also, there are Community Wellness Centers throughout the United States and they have groups that a facilitated by licensed counselors. These are free for cancer patients and they have separate groups for caregivers and also programs for children of cancer patients.

I discuss some of my issues about my doctors - my gyn/onc closed his practice this past December and moved to another state - with my counselor. Having skilled person to help you through these issues is so beneficial. I know there is wonderful help out there. Inka has also given you good advice - actually my cancer counselor suggested that I find an online support group and being here has really helped. Best wishes in finding support. Janet