Psychosocial management of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer: treating the whole patient to improve quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the psychosocial issues affecting women with recurrent ovarian cancer and provide suggestions for screening to provide appropriate referrals.


METHODS
Research articles and textbooks.


CONCLUSIONS
Nursing care may involve practical, informational, and emotional support. Screening patients for psychosocial distress can be conducted quickly and is important to identify patients requiring additional interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses should be familiar with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines regarding distress management. Psychosocial support requires a commitment to addressing the individual psychosocial needs of each patient. Nurses play an invaluable role in helping to improve the quality of life for women with recurrent ovarian cancer.
Fitch
Margaret I
MI
Oncology Nursing and Supportive Care Unit, Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, 2nd Floor Reception, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5 Canada.
D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D019529:Sexuality; D012944:Social Support