/ Updated August 1st, 2023

Feeling Overwhelmed by Your Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis? Here Are Some Ways to Regain Your Equilibrium

Creator: Dr. Jayanthi Lea
Published: 2021-01-05T13:46:17-05:00

: Dr. Elisabeth Diver Written by: Dr. Jayanthi Lea
UT Southwestern Medical Center

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Tips to Help You Cope

Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy protein (fish, chicken, beans).
Get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
When you feel anxious, talk to someone you're close with, such as a family member, romantic partner, or friend.
To calm your mind, go for walks or practice deep breathing exercises.

An ovarian cancer diagnosis can turn your world upside down. All of your priorities your family, your partner, your job — have to immediately shift to accommodate your cancer and its treatment. It's no wonder that depression and anxiety are so common in ovarian cancer patients.

"It’s not unusual for me to have patients tell me that they are having extreme anxiety, sadness, changes in their mood, in coping with the disease diagnosis and getting through treatment," Dr. Jayanthi Lea, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, tells SurvivorNet.

The first thing Dr. Lea asks her patients about is their diet and sleep habits. "Because very often, people stop eating. They can’t sleep," she says. "And then the other component is, do they have somebody close to them that they can talk to — a spouse, a loved one, a friend? These are all important things, because it’s important for people to get some type of normalcy amidst the chaos of being told that they have an advanced stage ovarian cancer."

If you feel overwhelmed by emotions right now, talk to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional. Also lean on the doctor who treats your cancer. "Patients should not forget that oncologists are very much a part of their team. We are on your side. So when you have spoken to your family members or your spouse and you still feel that you are having challenges in trying to just cope from day to day, come and talk with us," Dr. Lea says.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Dr. Jayanthi Lea is a gynecologic oncologist and professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in the treatment of ovarian, endometrial, cervical and other gynecologic cancers. Read More