Taking care of someone you love who's facing ovarian cancer is a journey you probably never expected to walk. The numbers tell a hard story—about 19,000 to 20,000 women in the U.S. receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis each year, and roughly 12,000 to 13,000 die from the disease annually. When you first hear those statistics, they can feel overwhelming.
Here's what gives us hope: when ovarian cancer is caught early, the five-year relative survival rate is over 90%. The challenge is that most cases—about 70%—are diagnosed at advanced stages (III or IV). But here's the thing: treatment advances mean women are living longer with ovarian cancer than ever before.
Ovarian cancer happens when cells in the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum start growing out of control and form tumors. If it's not caught early, these cells can spread to other parts of the body.
The ovaries themselves are small—about the size of walnuts—and sit on either side of the uterus. Their job is to produce eggs and hormones during a woman's reproductive years.
There are different types of ovarian cancer, and knowing which type your loved one has matters for treatment. The most common is epithelial ovarian cancer, which starts in the tissue covering the ovaries and makes up about 85–90% of cases. The frustrating reality is that many women with this type aren't diagnosed until it's already advanced.
Other types are less common but worth knowing about:
Why does this matter to you as a caregiver? Understanding these basics means you can follow along during medical appointments, ask better questions, and help your loved one process what the doctors are telling her. You don't need to become a medical expert, but having this foundation makes you a more confident partner in her care.
The diagnosis process begins with tests—pelvic exams, ultrasounds, CT scans, and blood work looking for something called CA-125 protein (though it isn’t specific to ovarian cancer and can be elevated for other reasons).
Surgery comes next for most women. There are two main goals here: figuring out how far the cancer has spread, and removing as much of it as possible. The surgical team often removes both ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the uterus. The surgeon also examines the entire abdomen to determine the cancer's stage—information that shapes every decision moving forward.
Then there's chemotherapy—usually a combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel. The treatment can be delivered:
For some types of ovarian cancer, targeted therapies might be an option—PARP inhibitors such as olaparib, niraparib, or rucaparib, and in some cases the anti-angiogenic drug bevacizumab. Hormone therapy or radiation therapy may be used in more limited or specific situations.
The medical team will guide the clinical choices. Your job is different—you're there to listen, to remember what the doctors say when her mind is spinning, and to help her feel less alone in a process that can feel overwhelming. Knowing the basics helps you ask better questions, anticipate what's coming next, and feel more confident when treatment decisions need to be made.
The day-to-day reality of caregiving means figuring out how to balance medical support with emotional needs. And let's be honest—some days feel harder than others.
Food becomes complicated when treatment changes her appetite. Don't get caught up in finding the "perfect" diet—there isn't one. Focus on keeping her nourished with whatever she can tolerate. Some days that might mean ice cream for breakfast, and that's okay.
When symptoms hit, here's what actually helps:
There's a lot to learn about caring for a loved one with ovarian cancer. But here's what nobody tells you upfront: most caregivers report poor sleep—up to 70–90% in some studies. You're not imagining how tired you feel. It's real, and it's normal. Setting boundaries isn't selfish—it's necessary. Figure out early what you can realistically handle and what you need help with.
For men walking this path, the Cancer Caregiver's Journey from CaringMen.org offers resources designed specifically for us and the unique challenges we face as caregivers.