“Lower abdominal pains, as if I was being squeezed…in a clamp”: A Qualitative Analysis of Symptoms, Patient-Perceived Side Effects and Impacts of Ovarian Cancer

Background Understanding the patient’s perception of their disease is vital for guiding care decisions. The current study aimed to identify the most predominant experiences in women diagnosed with, and treated for, ovarian cancer in terms of disease-related symptoms, treatment-attributed side effects and their impacts. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews about disease-related symptoms, treatment-attributed side effects and their impacts were conducted with women who were being treated for ovarian cancer in Europe (n = 55) or in the USA (n = 9). The women were also asked to rate the bothersomeness of the symptoms, side effects and impacts that they mentioned during the interview. Symptoms, side effects and impacts were identified from coded interview transcripts using an iterative coding framework. Results Bloating, abdominal pain, tiredness and frequent urination were the most frequently expressed symptoms, and were reported by 72%, 67%, 64% and 55% of women, respectively, which together constituted approximately 30% of all symptom expressions. The most bothersome symptoms were reported as bloating, abdominal pain, pain in the side, tiredness and fatigue. The most frequently expressed side effects were hair loss, neuropathy, tiredness and nausea, which were reported by 84%, 63%, 61% and 61% of women, respectively. The most bothersome reported side effects were constipation, nausea, diarrhoea, pain in general, fatigue, weakness, reduced sleep quality and hair loss. Feelings of anxiety, concerns about the future, physical functioning, work limitations and the adoption of coping strategies were the most frequently expressed impacts and were reported by 72–80% of women. Impacts reported as the most difficult to deal with were concerns about the future, emotional difficulties in general, physical functioning, sexual functioning, negative self-image, fatigue, sleep difficulties, financial burden and work limitations. Conclusions In our qualitative study, the most common and most bothersome experiences reported by women treated for ovarian cancer were symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain and tiredness; side effects of hair loss, nausea and tiredness/fatigue; and impacts relating to concerns about the future, physical functioning and work limitations. We suggest that clinicians measure these experiences consistently and take them into consideration when making treatment decisions.