Once you have gone through all the necessary diagnostic tests, your doctor will likely recommend one of the following treatments for your ovarian cancer:
- Chemotherapy;
- Surgical removal of tumors;
- Hormone therapy;
- Radiation therapy, and
- Targeted therapy.
It is important that you take some time to weigh your options, and fully understand the treatment itself as well as the potential side effects and success rates associated with each treatment. Your doctor will base his or her recommendation on what type of ovarian cancer you have been diagnosed with, as well as the stage of your disease. If you did not have surgery first, then the exact stage of your cancer may as yet be unknown. Because ovarian cancer affects your fertility and ability to have children, if you are of child-bearing age and want to have children, this could affect your treatment plan. Other factors which could also alter a treatment plan include how healthy you are in general, and certain personal considerations. Age, in and of itself, is not a primary consideration because several studies have shown older women generally tolerate ovarian cancer treatment fairly well.
Should You Consider a Clinical Trial?
Clinical trials are research studies which are carefully controlled in an effort to reveal promising new procedures or treatments. For most people, taking part in a clinical trial allows them to receive state-of-the-art treatment, they could not otherwise get. That being said, clinical trials are not for everyone. Ask your doctor is your hospital conducts clinical trials, or call 1-800-303-5691 for a comprehensive list of ovarian cancer clinical trials which could potentially meet your needs.
Alternative Treatments for Ovarian Cancer
It is likely you will hear about—or read on the Internet—about alternative methods for treating ovarian cancer, and wonder why your doctor has not mentioned these alternative treatments. An alternative or complementary treatment could include taking certain vitamins or herbs, going on a special diet, or even such things as acupuncture, hypnotism, or going to a clinic in another country. A complementary treatment is done in conjunction with traditional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, while alternative treatments are done in place of traditional medical treatments. Some of these treatments might help you feel better, or could relieve certain symptoms, however others could actually be dangerous. It is important that you have a cancer doctor who you trust, and that you are able to discuss alternative and complementary treatments with.
The Issue over Baby Powder with Talc: Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
Women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer are likely very anxious about their future as well as the treatments they may face. With the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits and the new focus on talcum powder ovarian cancer, the entire subject of ovarian cancer has been in the spotlight. It is extremely dismaying for women who have been using J & J baby powder with talc for years—or decades—for feminine hygiene to find out this practice could potentially increase their risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 30-40 percent. Equally dismaying is the fact that Johnson & Johnson did not see the need to place a warning on their baby powder with talc product regarding this risk.
Most of us associate the smell of baby powder with everything that is good. To now find out that a company we placed our trust in may have known about the risks of talcum powder when used for feminine hygiene purposes, yet failed to warn us, feels like a betrayal of that trust. There are currently more than 1,200 talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits pending against Johnson & Johnson. It is likely J & J is feeling the sting from the past three talcum powder lawsuits which were decided in favor of the plaintiffs. Although J & J continues to maintain the evidence is inconclusive and there was no need for warnings on baby powder with talc, women who have talc fibers embedded in their ovarian tumors might disagree.
What Steps should Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Victims take to protect themselves?
If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and you used talcum powder (talc is found in baby powder with talc and in “Shower to Shower”) for feminine hygiene, you could benefit from speaking to an experienced talcum powder ovarian cancer lawyer. Your talcum powder ovarian cancer attorney can potentially file a talc lawsuit on your behalf, if appropriate, as well as answer any questions you may have. If you feel you need talcum powder ovarian cancer legal help, don’t wait. You could be entitled to compensation for injuries.