Caring for Someone with Ovarian Cancer: A Practical Guide for Family and Friends

Caring for someone with ovarian cancer is a profound journey that brings both challenges and opportunities to show your love and support. As a partner, family member, or close friend, your presence makes a meaningful difference in your loved one’s life during their diagnosis and treatment.

This guide will help you understand how to provide thoughtful support while also taking care of yourself. It’s natural to feel uncertain about what to say or do, and many caregivers share these same concerns. Let’s explore practical ways you can help, starting from the moment of diagnosis.

First Steps: Being There After Diagnosis 

The moment your loved one receives an ovarian cancer diagnosis, priorities shift and perspectives change. While your instinct might be to immediately take action, sometimes the most meaningful support comes through simply being present.

Remember that there’s no perfect response to a cancer diagnosis. Your loved one values your support and understanding more than having all the answers.

What Can Family and Friends Do to Help?

One question we hear often is, “What can I actually do to help?” 

The truth is that seemingly small gestures often carry profound meaning. Regular, reliable support through everyday actions can make a significant difference in your loved one’s life.

Practical Support

• Handle grocery shopping or meal preparation
• Drive them to appointments
• Take care of household chores
• Manage medications and keep track of schedules
• Help with childcare or pet care
• Take notes during medical appointments
• Offer help in managing appointments and dealing with insurance issues
• Offer specific help rather than saying, “Let me know if you need anything”

Emotional Support

• Create space for them to express their feelings
• Share normal, everyday conversations, too — cancer doesn’t have to dominate every interaction
• Send texts or leave voicemails just to say you’re thinking of them
• Remember important dates like scan results or treatment milestones
• Be patient with mood changes and emotional ups and downs

Ways to Help During Treatment

Ovarian cancer treatment often involves multiple approaches, and your loved one may need different types of support throughout their journey. Understanding what to expect during each phase can help you provide more effective care.

How You Can Help After Surgery

Surgery is typically a primary treatment for ovarian cancer, and recovery requires careful attention and support. Your loved one may need help with basic mobility, medication management, and daily tasks. Creating a comfortable recovery space at home can make a significant difference.

During this time, you can:

• Set up a comfortable recovery space at home (massage pillows can help improve comfort and sleep)
• Help track pain levels and medication schedules
• Assist with basic mobility needs
• Keep track of post-operative care instructions (like scheduling physical therapy for recovery) 
• Watch for signs of complications
• Coordinate visits from other friends and family
• Handle household responsibilities
• Help provide for your loved ones’ nutritional needs, like bone broth to help with recovery, etc.
• Provide emotional support during the recovery process

How You Can Help During Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer brings its own set of challenges, and your support during this phase is invaluable. During chemotherapy, you can help by:

• Creating “chemo comfort packs” with items like:
  • Warm socks
  • Unscented lip balm
  • Light snacks
  • Entertainment (books, magazines, tablets)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Warm blanket
• Offering to sit with them during treatments
• Helping manage ovarian cancer chemotherapy side effects at home
• Keeping track of hydration
• Providing gentle encouragement
• Helping maintain a clean environment to prevent infections

Caring for Someone with Ovarian Cancer: What Not to Do

Supporting someone with cancer involves understanding both helpful and potentially harmful approaches. 

Avoid comparing their situation to others or minimizing their experience with phrases that begin with “at least.” Instead of sharing cancer stories or pushing alternative treatments, focus on listening and responding to their expressed needs.

Trust that your loved one will share what they need, when they need it. Your consistent presence matters more than having perfect words or solutions.

When Your Loved One Needs Space

Sometimes, someone diagnosed with ovarian cancer may withdraw or seem less receptive to support. This natural part of processing a diagnosis and treatment deserves understanding and respect.

Your loved one might need time alone to process their feelings, conserve energy, or manage treatment side effects. During these times, maintain gentle contact through brief messages or cards while respecting their need for solitude. Let them know you’re available without pressure, and remember that withdrawal usually isn’t personal.

Keys to Supporting Your Loved One

Supporting someone through cancer treatment isn’t always straightforward, but certain approaches consistently make a difference. Here are essential ways you can provide meaningful support throughout your loved one’s journey:

Practice Active Listening

Give your loved one your complete attention during conversations. Focus on understanding rather than responding. Sometimes, a thoughtful pause or gentle acknowledgment means more than advice. Create space for both serious discussions and lighter moments.

Continue your regular conversation routines — if you usually call on Tuesdays to share neighborhood gossip, keep that tradition going. Patients often don’t want their entire life to revolve around their diagnosis, and maintaining these normal interactions provides comfort and a sense of continuity when so much else is changing.

Stay Organized

Keep track of important medical information, appointments, and care instructions. It can be easy to lose track of what’s important with so many calls and follow-ups to doctors’ offices, so make sure you take notes after every appointment or phone call. 

A tool like Google Docs can come in handy for taking notes and tracking everything throughout different points in the patient’s recovery journey. Maintain a calendar of treatments and follow-up visits. Document symptoms and side effects to share with healthcare providers. Having this information readily available helps reduce stress for everyone involved.

Remember that healthcare privacy laws protect your loved one’s medical information and that medical facilities may require a signed release form before sharing details with you. You can also have your attorney get you a standard release or authorization to direct care if that is requested by the patient. 

It’s essential to have an open conversation with your loved one about what level of access they are comfortable with you having. Proper authorization allows you to make appointments, speak with healthcare providers and ovarian cancer doctors on their behalf, and access important medical information when needed.

Maintain Normalcy

Continue regular activities when possible, adjusting as needed for energy levels and treatment schedules. Recovery takes time, and it’s crucial to support your partner or friend throughout the process as they heal physically and mentally. Share everyday moments, jokes, and conversations about non-cancer topics. Making plans for the future, even simple ones, can provide hope and something to look forward to.

Be Flexible

Adapt your support as needs change throughout treatment. Some days may require more help than others. Learning to read cues about energy levels and emotional state helps you provide appropriate support at the right time.

Educate Yourself

Take time to learn about ovarian cancer from reliable sources and your loved one’s medical team. Understanding the different types, stages, and treatment options helps you provide more informed support. Pay attention during doctor visits, and don’t hesitate to ask questions when appropriate. 

But remember: while being informed is important, avoid overwhelming your loved one with everything you learn. Let them guide how much information they want to discuss and when. Your role is to be knowledgeable enough to help, not to become an impromptu medical advisor.

Advice for Partners

Partners often carry unique responsibilities when caring for someone with ovarian cancer. Beyond the emotional impact, you may find yourself balancing practical care, household management, and your own well-being.

Emotional Support

Your relationship may temporarily shift during treatment. Maintain open, honest communication about feelings and concerns. Consider professional counseling, either individually or as a couple, to navigate these changes together.

Practical Support

Taking on additional household responsibilities often becomes necessary. Managing financial matters, insurance issues, and communication with extended family requires careful attention. Remember that asking for help from others isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a smart way to prevent burnout.

Intimacy

Physical and emotional intimacy may change during and after treatment. Approach these changes with patience and understanding. Keep communication channels open about comfort levels and concerns. Professional guidance can help navigate this aspect of your relationship when needed.

Related reading: Sex During Chemotherapy: A Guide for Ovarian Cancer Patients.

For Caregivers: Taking Care of Yourself

Caring for someone with ovarian cancer requires balancing their needs with your own well-being. Understanding this balance helps you provide better care while maintaining your health.

Set Boundaries

Establish clear limits about what you can realistically manage. Share responsibilities with others when possible, it takes a team to support a patient – lean on and ask others for help when you need it. Schedule regular breaks to prevent exhaustion. Remember that saying no to some requests allows you to say yes to what matters most.

Find Support

Connect with other caregivers through support groups or online communities. Maintain friendships and family relationships. Consider professional counseling to process your own emotions and challenges. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

Maintain Your Health

Regular medical check-ups, proper nutrition, and exercise remain important. Adequate sleep helps you stay focused. Pay attention to signs of stress or fatigue (or even depression and anxiety) in yourself and address them early. 

Take your own medicine as prescribed and make sure you also look after your own mental well-being. It’s easy to forget your own medical needs in this difficult time, so it’s important to be proactive in maintaining and improving your own physical, mental, and emotional health. 

Process Your Emotions

Allow yourself to experience and express your feelings about the situation. Consider journaling or creative outlets for emotional release. Share your thoughts with trusted friends or professionals. Your emotional well-being matters, too.

Read more: Nursing Care for Ovarian Cancer: What to Expect as a Caregiver.

Supporting someone through ovarian cancer is a significant responsibility that requires patience, flexibility, and self-awareness. Your consistent presence and care make a real difference in your loved one’s journey. Remember that seeking help when needed shows wisdom, not weakness.

Organizations like Not These Ovaries provide resources and support for both patients and caregivers. You’re part of a larger community of people who understand and share your experience.