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Introduction
Receiving a diagnosis of ovarian cancer is a life-changing event that affects everyone in your life. From friends to family, to co-workers, and more, disclosing a diagnosis of ovarian cancer may feel like a daunting task. Not only are you trying to cope with the diagnosis, but you also need a robust, informed support system.
The American Cancer Society Journal published a research study concluding open discussion of a cancer diagnosis increased the size of a patient’s support system and increased positive attitudes toward the treatment outcome. Both a positive outlook and an informed support system resulted in patients experiencing fewer episodes of depression or hopelessness.
This article provides some tips for planning your ovarian cancer diagnosis discussion with others.
How to plan for your cancer diagnosis discussion.
Telling others about your cancer diagnosis is a very personal decision. Only you can decide when the time is right. You may feel overwhelmed talking about your diagnosis as you try to cope and understand what is happening to you. According to the Midwest Nursing Research Society research, having a plan to tell others about your ovarian cancer can help with the fear and tension you may experience.
Tips for planning your discussion
- Decide how open you want to be about your ovarian cancer diagnosis.
- Who are the people you want to tell?
- What details are you willing to share with others?
- How will repeating the story make you feel?
- Do you want a direct approach where you or your delegate tell others or an indirect approach like a letter or other correspondence?
- Ask others how they are feeling.
- What responses would upset you, and how to deal with them?
You may need to try different approaches until you feel comfortable talking about your ovarian cancer with others. Remember, this is a personal decision; how you communicate is up to you. There is no right or wrong way to discuss a diagnosis of ovarian cancer with others; for more tips on discussing cancer with others, please visit the American Cancer Society.
Becky E. Zook RN, BSN, MS is a freelance health writer with over 30 years of experience in healthcare, leadership, professional development, quality assurance, clinical research, and building healthcare delivery systems. Visit her website.
