Quality of Life

Focused on Quality of Life for Ovarian Cancer Patients

Our team at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center provides comprehensive services and resources devoted to optimizing the quality of life of women before, during, and after treatment.

We offer medical services to help relieve cancer symptoms or chemotherapy side-effects, as well as a concurrent Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic to help build strength and endurance or reduce pain and stress.
Our pharmacist and nurse teams are specialized in cancer care and women’s health and can help keep you educated about your care and your diagnosis

Integrated Approach to Cancer Care

We take an integrated approach to your care, centering around your goals and considering every aspect of how cancer affects your body.

In the Patient & Family Support Services Program, you may receive treatments or services to manage your symptoms and side effects, such as:

Nutrition services
Lymphedema management
Physical therapy and occupational therapy
On-site symptom management clinic
Integrative medicine approaches
Personal appearance and grooming support

Ovarian cancer patient Trisha Goodridge talks about not only her cancer journey, but her recent journey on Route 66. With some planning and talking with her ovarian cancer team, she embarked on a three week journey across the United States in a classic car with a group of friends to take a road trip of a lifetime and share important information from the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance with people across the country to know the warning signs of ovarian cancer. Living with Ovarian Cancer: A Patient's Journey transcript

The Rogel Cancer Center also offers services to help you and your family manage the difficult emotions of a cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, such as educational and support group resources.

Dedicated Patient Navigator

Our patient navigator helps assure that your pre-surgical evaluations, procedures, chemotherapy appointments, follow-ups, and other appointments at times and locations that will be convenient for you.

Many of our services, including chemotherapy infusions and blood draw requests, can be scheduled at our cancer center satellite locations. Other patient navigator roles include:

Serve as a single point of contact for patients and families
Advocate for you and coach you to advocate for yourself
Help overcome care obstacles, such as transportation, childcare, financial counseling, or lodging
Arrange interpreter services
Direct you and your family to community resources and supportive services
Refer you to Social Work
Accompany you to some of your appointments if you wish
Inform the clinical team of your beliefs, cultural norms, and goals relevant to their care
Discuss Advance Care Planning with you and your family
Resources for Patients and Families

There are numerous ovarian cancer educational and informational resources available at the Rogel Cancer Center, as well as through national and community organizations. These resources include:

American Cancer Society
Cancer Support Group of Greater Ann Arbor
Foundation for Women’s Cancer
Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MIOCA)
Thrive Magazine, the Rogel Cancer Center’s publication for cancer patients and families

Learn More About Improving Your Quality of Life

If you have an ovarian cancer question or concern for yourself or family member, or need more information about improving your quality of life, you can call our CancerAnswerLine™, staffed by oncology nurses, at 800-865-1125 or talk to one of our team members.