Digital Guide: Arizona Oncology Ovarian Cancer Experts

Getting an MRI can be really helpful for people with ovarian cancer, but there are some comfort issues to be aware of.

When a woman has ovarian cancer, going in for a CT scan can provide crucial information about the disease that can help determine treatment.

If ovarian cancer recurs, your doctors will need to get a global picture of everything that is happening within your body. This may require an ultrasound.

If you are undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer, there are a few simple instructions that your doctor will go over with you beforehand. These instructions will vary from patient to patient, and may involve avoiding food for a set number of hours before your procedure or taking certain medications.

Before undergoing ovarian cancer surgery, women may be encouraged to prepare by making changes to their diet and, in some cases, doing a bowel cleanse.

When it comes to ovarian cancer surgery, how long the operation takes will depend on the severity of the disease. Typically, it's between 2 and 4 hours.

Like any surgery, there are certain risks associated with ovarian cancer surgery. However, the likelihood of experiencing complications is very low. According to Dr. Dana Chase, only about 1% of women who get ovarian cancer surgery will experience any type of complication.

Since doctors are making a large incision, most people experience pain after ovarian cancer surgery. However, Dr. Dana Chase explains that advances in medicine have allowed hospitals to take some major steps in helping women manage their post-surgery pain.

When treating ovarian cancer in the past, doctors almost always did surgery first. But now, many women may want to consider doing chemotherapy first.

Chemotherapy has a notoriously bad reputation when it comes to side effects. But modern medicine has come a long way.

The role of radiation when it comes to treating ovarian cancer is changing. It's being used more and more for certain types of this disease.

There are a few different types of radiation doctors can use to treat ovarian cancer: conventional radiation, stereotactic radiation, and brachytherapy.

People getting radiation therapy don't actually feel the treatment. There may be some physical sensation depending on how it is administered, however.

The easiest way to think of how PARP inhibitors work in cancer cells is that they're "taking away the crutches from someone who has a broken leg," says Dr. Willmott. "But for a cancer cell that's a good thing because we want the cancer cell to die."

PARP inhibitors can help extend the amount of time that certain women can live without their ovarian cancer coming back. For many women, this can result in an improved quality of life.

Who can receive PARP inhibitors -- and when -- depends on several factors, including genetic mutations and whether your cancer has responded to chemotherapy.

Gain more insights on how ovarian cancer patients should manage their ovarian cancer diet and exercise regimens.

it's important to take just as much care of your emotional health as your physical health when dealing with ovarian cancer.

Doctors sometimes have biases that can cloud their judgement in providing care. We spoke to Dr. Dana Chase on ways you can help your doctor understand you.