Managing Recovery From Ovarian Cancer Surgery
- Movement is a key component of a healthy recovery
- Doctors recommend taking 20- to 30-minute walks in the weeks before surgery
- After surgery the goal is to get up and move two to three times each day
- Taking care of your body before and after surgery will help you tolerate treatment and recover more quickly
“Even though the bulk of recovery happens during the first six to eight weeks, complete surgical healing takes a whole year,” says Dr. Jocelyn Chapman, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of California in San Francisco.
Read More- Get moving. Studies show that patients who are fit going into surgery fare better after the procedure. “We recommend that patients take 20- to 30-minute walks in the weeks before surgery so your body is accustomed to that level of exertion and ready to get back to it postoperatively,” Dr. Chapman says. Exercise is a key component of healing.
- Eat well: You may not feel like eating in the day or two after surgery, so it’s important to ensure you have calories and protein on board to fuel your recovery. Your best bet: Eat regular meals that include adequate protein in the days prior to surgery.
- Breathe: Take time out to focus on your body and practice breathing deeply. Not only will deep breathing exercises help increase your lung capacity prior to surgery, it could also lift your spirits and provide you with the emotional and physical strength you need in the days following surgery.
The Days After Surgery
When you wake up from surgery, you’ll probably feel a certain level of pain and discomfort. Listen to your body.
“If you wake up hungry, you can eat right away,” Dr. Chapman says. “We usually start patients on a liquid diet broths, juices, and soups for the first 24 hours after surgery. After a few days, the bowels will start to wake up and patients regain their appetites.”
While it’s always important to listen to your body after major surgery, your recovery depends on how soon you get up and moving. Your nurse will try to get you out of bed as soon as possible after you wake up. At the very least, you’ll be sitting in a chair within 24 hours of surgery. After that, the goal for most patients is to get out of bed at least three times per day and walk the hospital hallways.
“In the beginning, the pace will be slow and the distance not great, but the goal is to get up, get out of bed, and walk doing the hospital shuffle, as we like to call it,” Dr. Chapman says.
The Weeks After Surgery
Most patients who have had ovarian cancer surgery are left with a large incision that extends across their abdomen. It’s important to take care of your body.
“The bulk of the recovery happens during the first six weeks after surgery, and that’s the time when we ask patients not to lift heavy things to protect their abdominal incision while it’s healing,” Dr. Chapman says. “That’s also the period of time that we expect people to just be slowly getting back to their regular activity and their usual eating patterns.”
The Next Step in Your Treatment Journey
Ovarian cancer care is complex and typically requires multiple treatments, often back-to-back. If you recover from surgery quickly, you’ll be better equipped to tackle the next leg of your treatment journey. For most patients, that means chemotherapy.
“We know chemotherapy works best when the volume of cancer cells is the least,” Dr. Chapman says. So one of the more challenging aspects of ovarian cancer treatment is that patients are often beginning chemotherapy four or five weeks after surgery when their body is still recovering.
If you’re able to nurture your body and build up your endurance before surgery and in the days and weeks following the procedure, you’ll start chemotherapy on healthier footing and recover from treatment more quickly.
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