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Patient Education

Taking Charge: Living with Ovarian Cancer

Related Conditions
Breast Cancer
Ovarian Cancer

A diagnosis of ovarian cancer may bring on overwhelming emotions, ranging from fear to confusion to grief. Talking about these emotions and the issues you face, such as body image and sexuality, can be helpful. Your doctor can recommend support groups or counselors to help guide you through this challenging time.

Ovarian Cancer Myths

Using birth control pills increases your risk of ovarian cancer.

This is not true. Use of oral contraceptives actually reduces your risk of ovarian cancer. Other factors that reduce your risk include having been pregnant, breast feeding, and, for reasons that are not well understood, having a tubal ligation.

Patients who had both ovaries removed as part of treatment can't use hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

This is not true. Women who have had this disease can take supplemental hormones. Use of these hormones has no effect on whether their disease recurs. It does, however, help to manage symptoms of menopause caused by removal of the ovaries and to protect against bone loss, just as it does in women who have not had ovarian cancer.

Read More

  • Next section of Taking Charge: Diet, Lifestyle and Cancer

Return to the Taking Charge Index

  • What Is Breast Cancer?
  • Who Gets Breast Cancer?
  • If You Are at High Risk for Breast Cancer
  • Screening for Breast Cancer
  • How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
  • How Is Breast Cancer Treated?
  • What Is Ovarian Cancer?
  • Who Gets Ovarian Cancer?
  • If You Are at High Risk for Ovarian Cancer
  • Screening for Ovarian Cancer
  • How Is Ovarian Cancer Diagnosed?
  • How is Ovarian Cancer Treated?
  • Living With Cancer
  • Diet, Lifestyle and Cancer
  • Glossary of Terms

UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.

Recommended reading

Basic Facts About Breast Health

Learn basic facts about breast structure and function and how to differentiate between the different types and stages of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Glossary

Check out our comprehensive Glossary of Breast Cancer terminology, which includes definitions of everything from AC chemotherapy to peripheral neuropathy.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Click now to find a summary of the factors that increase risk for developing breast cancer, including both factors that we cannot change and those we can.

Self-Care and Recovery

Self-Care and recovery resources including an Introduction to Lifestyle Change, Nutrition and Breast Cancer, Hydration: Water and Health, Meditation and more.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction, surgery to rebuild a breast's shape, is often an option after mastectomy and is covered by some health insurance plans. Learn more now.

Follow-Up Care for Breast Cancer Patients

After patients have completed treatment for early stage breast cancer, one of the common questions is, "How should I best be monitored?" Learn more here.

Mastectomy: Instructions Before Surgery

The following information will help you prepare for your upcoming Mastectomy surgery. If you have any questions, please contact the Breast Care Center staff.

Mastectomy: Instructions After Surgery

Post Mastectomy surgery instructions including, pain management, incision and dressing care, activity, diet, follow-up care and more.

Menopause and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer treatment often causes women to enter menopause prematurely. Although each woman reacts to therapy individually, certain side effects are common.

Metastatic Breast Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment

Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that originated in the breast and has spread to other organ systems in the body. Learn more here.

Navigating Your Path to Breast Care

Different services and information are needed at different points in breast health care and breast cancer treatment. Learn more here.

Osteoporosis and Breast Cancer

Women who have had breast cancer or are considered at high risk for developing breast cancer are at risk for developing osteoporosis. Learn more.

Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

The UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center and the Department of Radiation Oncology have compiled information about radiation therapy for your convenience.

Related clinics

Breast Care Center

Berkeley Outpatient Center

3100 San Pablo Ave., Suite 280
Berkeley, CA 94702

(415) 353-7070

Gynecologic Oncology Center

Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building

See all 3 of our Bay Area locations and learn more about the center.

(415) 353-9600

Attention: Masks On!

If you're a patient or visitor in one of our hospitals or clinics, you're required to wear a mask indoors.

Did you know?

UCSF became the birthplace of fetal surgery in 1981, when Dr. Michael Harrison performed the first successful open surgery on a child still in the womb to correct a life-threatening birth defect. Our Fetal Treatment Center continues to be a world leader in caring for babies before they take their first breath.

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