A study looking at the experiences of women with advanced ovarian cancer (ADVOCATE)

This study is looking at the experiences of women who have had or are having treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.

Doctors often treat advanced ovarian cancer with chemotherapy. The aim is not to cure the cancer but to control its growth and any symptoms it may be causing. Chemotherapy has side effects and it is how these affect the women being treated that the researchers want to look at.

This study will use interviews and questionnaires to find out how women feel about their treatment and the side effects.

The aims of this study are

To identify common treatments and experiences of women with advanced ovarian cancer
To find out which side effects women find most difficult to cope with
To find out what information about ovarian cancer and its treatment would be useful
To find out who the women would prefer to see at follow up appointments after treatment for advanced ovarian cancer

Recruitment

Start 01/01/2012

End 31/12/2012

Phase

Other

Who can enter

You may be able to enter this trial if you

Are at least 18 years old
Have advanced ovarian cancer

You cannot enter this trial if you

Are a patient in hospital
Cannot easily speak and understand English
Have early stage ovarian cancer (Stage 1)

Trial design

This is an interview and questionnaire study. You will be asked about

The treatment you have had or are having
Any side effects you have had and how the doctors and nurses looking after you helped you with these
Your views about information you were given about your treatment and your cancer
How you would like to be cared for in the future

The interview will take about 30 minutes and the questionnaire will take about 10 minutes to complete.

Hospital visits

If you are interested in taking part a researcher will contact you by phone. They will arrange to interview you at a place convenient to you, for example, your home, the hospital where you were treated, or by telephone.

Side effects

The team do not expect any real risks or disadvantages from taking part in this study. But you may find it hard to talk about the treatment and experiences you had. If this happens, the researcher will offer to stop the interview and continue at another time. And they will offer you further support if you would like it.