What are the treatment options for ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer treatments

Treatment options for ovarian cancer depends on the stage of cancer. Other considerations involve the patient’s age and health. Options typically involve a combination of surgery and chemotherapy drugs.

Surgery. Surgery for ovarian cancer is an important step in accurately diagnosing the tumor stage. Preliminary surgery usually involves taking a tissue sample and sending it to a lab for analysis. If the tissue is positive for ovarian cancer, then the surgeon will remove any cancerous tissue. For premenopausal women who wish to keep fertility, it is sometimes possible to keep the unaffected ovary and uterus. However, regular checkups are required to make sure the cancer has not spread.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treatments depend on the stage of ovarian cancer. Early stage cancer (Stage I & II) do not require chemotherapy treatment after surgery. Advanced stage cancer usually requires surgery and additional types of chemotherapy treatment.

Carboplatin (Paraplatin) and paclitaxel (Taxol) is the usual combination of drugs to treat ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, for many women with advanced stage cancer, the cancer cells will grow back. For these women, more surgery and other chemotherapy drugs are often required.

Women should expect to schedule regular follow ups for at least 5 years after diagnosis.