Ovarian Cancer Treatment

The Gynecologic Oncology Center focuses on three primary ovarian cancer treatments: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The course of treatment depends on the staging of the ovarian cancer.

Surgery

In the vast majority of cases, surgery is required to remove the cancer, often in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The procedure used is either a laparotomy, where an incision is made in the wall of the abdomen or a laparoscopy, where a small tube with a camera and light is inserted through a small incision.

Once the region is located, a sample of the tumor is removed and examined under a microscope to determine that it is indeed cancerous.

If ovarian cancer is confirmed, the surgeon performs one of several procedures:

• A total hysterectomy, which involves the total removal of the uterus.
• An omentectomy, which removes the fatty tissue covering the bowels.
• A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, where the ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed. 
• A lymphadenectomy, removal of one or more of the lymph nodes.
• Other procedures:  Partial colectomy(removal of bowel) and Splenectomy.

As much of the cancer is removed as possible during the procedure. This is known as debulking. Patients with tumor masses that are less than one centimeter have the best chance of full recovery, so debulking is an important step.

Chemotherapy

Depending on the stage of the ovarian cancer, chemotherapy may be used alone or in conjunction with surgery and/or radiation therapy. In its simplest form, chemotherapy involves the use of powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs are administered either through a vein, directly into the abdomen or orally.

To maximize its effectiveness, it is usually given in cycles. Each cycle is followed by a rest period. The number of cycles depends on the type of drug used and your response to it.

With chemotherapy there’s no guarantee that the cancer won’t ever return, but it does reduce the chances that it will. Results vary by patient. Your Gynecologic Oncology Center physician will go over the chances of recurrence as well as side effects before you begin chemotherapy.

If the ovarian cancer is in its advanced stages and has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be used to reduce the symptoms so you can live longer and enjoy a good quality of life.

As a leader in treating ovarian cancer, the Gynecologic Oncology Center participates in a wide range of clinical trials of new treatments that are unavailable to the general public. In fact, the center offers more of these trials than any other healthcare facility in the region.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is the third option available to patients with ovarian cancer.

With radiation therapy, a high-energy ray is used to kill the cancer cells. It is rarely used today to treat ovarian cancer itself. Rather, it is used to treat pain and other issues that are related to the disease. Radiation might also be helpful for some patients with revnent disease in areas amendable to treatment with radiation. Radiation might also be helpful with some patients with current disease with areas amendible with treaments with radiation.