Survivorship issues in ovarian cancer: a review.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To review what is known about survivorship issues for women after ovarian cancer treatment while identifying gaps and controversies. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, CINAHL, and CancerLit database searches using the key words ovarian cancer, quality of life (QOL), chronic care, coping, uncertainty, and survivor separately and in combination. DATA SYNTHESIS Data were categorized into psychosocial, QOL, and physical symptoms and reviewed for design, sample size, method, and outcome. CONCLUSIONS Ovarian cancer studies focus on women's symptoms and concerns during treatment. Needs and issues of long-term survivors lack exploration. The relationship of ovarian cancer survivorship and physical side effects of treatment or recurrence is insufficient given increasing survival rates. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The nature and management of physical symptoms, beyond pain, in ovarian cancer survivors need further study. Specifically, QOL and psychosocial issues for long-term survivors require study. Consequences for women who undergo major tissue debulking or multiple and aggressive courses of cytotoxic treatments must be understood to facilitate intervention.