Medication
Depending on the type of ovarian cancer, different types of drug treatment might be used, including: Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer. Hormone Therapy for Ovarian Cancer. Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer.
Procedures
Active areas of ovarian cancer research include clinical evaluation of non-cross-resistant antineoplastic agents that demonstrated single-agent activity in ovarian cancer during the 1990s: oxaliplatin, the new anthracyclines (epirubicin, liposomal doxorubicin), topotecan, oral etoposide, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine.
Self-care
· The standard types of treatment for ovarian cancer can include: 1,2 Surgery Radiation therapy, though this is not typically given as a main treatment Chemotherapy, including intraperitoneal chemotherapy (a treatment that delivers chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity through a catheter, or thin tube) Hormone therapy Targeted therapy
What is the best natural cure for ovarian cancer?
Less commonly used in the U.S. for ovarian cancer, radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors in other parts of the body. Complementary Therapies Also called integrative medicine, these therapies are used with standard medicine as a whole-body approach for fighting disease, reducing stress and side effects.
Can you be fully cured of ovarian cancer?
MSK can offer you a unique level of surgical care, with experts dedicated solely to the surgical treatment of women with ovarian cancer. Recent enhancements have also been made to chemotherapy regimens, such as intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and in …
What are the different ovarian cancer alternative treatments?
Ovarian cancer treatment guidelines Surgery. The type of surgery a person undergoes depends on their general health and how far the cancer has spread. Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy involves healthcare professionals using high energy X-rays or particles to kill... Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is ...
What is the best diet for ovarian cancer?
· Complementary therapies for ovarian cancer Aromatherapy. . Essential oils may improve your mood and reduce stress. Meditation. . Relaxation methods can help ease pain and improve sleep. Massage therapy. . This therapeutic treatment for your body might help lower stress and ease anxiety and pain. ...
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· Surgery is one of the main treatments for ovarian cancer. In most cases, one of the first big decisions is whether to start with surgery or …
What is the best treatment for ovarian cancer?
Surgery is the main treatment for ovarian cancer, recommended primarily when the vast majority of the cancer or affected tissue can be removed successfully. Some early-stage ovarian patients may undergo minimally-invasive procedures to remove ovarian tumors and/or preserve fertility.
What is the treatment of choice for clients with ovarian cancer?
Surgery is often the first treatment recommended for ovarian cancer, and may involve the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, uterus, lymph nodes in the area, and surrounding organs and tissue. Chemotherapy is usually recommended after surgery.
What is the first treatment for ovarian cancer?
The initial treatment for stage I ovarian cancer is surgery to remove the tumor. Most often the uterus, both fallopian tubes, and both ovaries are removed (a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy).
Can ovarian cancer be treated successfully?
Approximately 20% of women with advanced-stage ovarian cancer survive beyond 12 years after treatment and are effectively cured. Initial therapy for ovarian cancer comprises surgery and chemotherapy, and is given with the goal of eradicating as many cancer cells as possible.
Which Treatments Are Used For Ovarian Cancer?
There are several ways to treat ovarian cancer, depending on its type and stage.Local treatments: Some treatments are local, meaning they treat the...
How Is Ovarian Cancer Typically Treated?
Most women with ovarian cancer will have some type of surgery to remove the tumor. Depending on the type of ovarian cancer and how advanced it is,...
Who Treats Ovarian Cancer?
Doctors on your cancer treatment team might include: 1. A gynecologic oncologist: a gynecology doctor who is specially trained to use surgery to tr...
Making Treatment Decisions
It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decisi...
Help Getting Through Cancer Treatment
Your cancer care team will be your first source of information and support, but there are other resources for help when you need it. Hospital- or c...
How is ovarian cancer treated?
During the surgical procedure the surgeon will obtain small pieces of tissue (biopsies) from various sites in the abdominal cavity. During this procedure, depending on the stage (extent) of the disease, the surgeon will either remove just the ovary and fallopian tube or will remove both ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. In addition, the surgeon will attempt to remove as much of the cancer as possible.
What drugs were used to treat ovarian cancer in the 1990s?
Active areas of ovarian cancer research include clinical evaluation of non-cross-resistant antineoplastic agents that demonstrated single-agent activity in ovarian cancer during the 1990s: oxaliplatin, the new anthracyclines (epirubicin, liposomal doxorubicin), topotecan, oral etoposide, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine.
What is stage 1 ovarian cancer?
Stage I - Generally women with Stage I ovarian cancer have a total abdominal hysterectomy, removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes, omentectomy, biopsy of lymph nodes and other tissues in the pelvis and abdomen. Young women whose disease is confined to one ovary are often treated by a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without a hysterectomy and removal of the opposite ovary being performed. Omentectomy and the other parts of the staging procedure are performed. Depending on the pathologist's interpretation of the tissue removed, there may be no further treatment if the cancer is low grade, or if the tumor is high grade the patient may receive combination chemotherapy.
What is stage 3 chemo?
1) combination chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy or. 2) combination chemotherapy. Stage III - Treatment is the same as for Stage II ovarian cancer. Following the surgical procedure, the patient may either receive combination chemotherapy possibly followed by additional surgery to find and remove any remaining cancer. ...
What is the treatment for stage IV syphilis?
Stage IV - Treatment will probably be surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible followed by combination chemotherapy.
Can platinum-resistance cancer be treated by itself?
Patients with recurrent platinum-resistance cancer can be given several secondary-chemotherapy regimens by itself or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.
Can you get chemotherapy for stage 2 cancer?
Depending on the pathologist's interpretation of the tissue removed, there may be no further treatment if the cancer is low grade, or if the tumor is high grade the patient may receive combination chemotherapy. Stage II - Treatment is almost always hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy as well as debulking of as much ...
What is the treatment for ovarian cancer?
Types of Treatment. Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Surgery: Doctors remove cancer tissue in an operation. Chemotherapy: Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer.
How to choose the right cancer treatment?
Choosing the treatment that is right for you may be hard. Talk to your cancer doctor about the treatment options available for your type and stage of cancer. Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits of each treatment and their side effects . Side effects are how your body reacts to drugs or other treatments.
What kind of doctor treats peritoneal cancer?
If your doctor says that you have ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers, ask to be referred to a gynecologic oncologist —a doctor who was trained to treat cancers of a woman’s reproductive system. Gynecologic oncologists can perform surgery on and give chemotherapy (medicine) to women with ovarian cancer.
What is a medical oncologist?
Medical oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with medicine (chemotherapy).
What is the name of the doctor who treats cancer?
Different treatments may be provided by different doctors on your medical team. Gynecologic oncologists are doctors who have been trained to treat cancers of a woman’s reproductive system. They perform surgery and give chemotherapy (medicine). Surgeons are doctors who perform operations.
How does estrogen therapy help ovarian cancer?
Hormone therapy uses drugs to block the effects of the hormone estrogen on ovarian cancer cells. Some ovarian cancer cells use estrogen to help them grow, so blocking estrogen may help control the cancer.
How to test for ovarian cancer?
Genetic testing. Your doctor may recommend testing a sample of your blood to look for gene changes that increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Knowing you have an inherited change in your DNA helps your doctor make decisions about your treatment plan. You may wish to share the information with your blood relatives, such as your siblings and your children, since they also may have a risk of having those same gene changes.
What is the name of the doctor who treats ovarian cancer?
A gynecological oncologist is an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) who has additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer and other gynecological cancers.
What test can detect ovarian cancer?
Your doctor might also test your blood for tumor markers that indicate ovarian cancer. For example, a cancer antigen (CA) 125 test can detect a protein that's often found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. These tests can't tell your doctor whether you have cancer, but may give clues about your diagnosis and prognosis.
How to help with cancer?
Take time for yourself. Eating well, relaxing and getting enough rest can help combat the stress and fatigue of cancer.
When is chemotherapy used?
Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that might remain. It can also be used before surgery.
Can you have a child with ovarian cancer?
Surgery to remove one ovary. For early-stage cancer that hasn't spread beyond one ovary, surgery may involve removing the affected ovary and its fallopian tube. This procedure may preserve your ability to have children.
Who is part of the treatment team?
Your treatment team can be made up of many different kinds of healthcare professionals, including: 1
Types of treatment for advanced ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is most commonly treated by a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. However, there may be other treatments used depending on each person’s specific diagnosis. 1,2
Surgery
Surgery is a local therapy used to treat some forms of ovarian cancer. Depending on the stage of your cancer, surgery may include removal of: 2
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is not typically used as a main treatment for ovarian cancer. However, it may be used if the cancer has spread somewhere else, like the brain or spinal cord. 3
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. This means it is a systemic treatment. Chemotherapy is helpful because it can reach small areas of cancer cells that have moved through the body and then attack them.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy uses hormones or hormone-blocking drugs to help fight cancer. It is a kind of systemic therapy that may be used to treat ovarian stromal tumors. Estrogen can sometimes stimulate cancer cell growth. Hormone therapy drugs help to reduce or stop the circulation of estrogen or even turn off estrogen production. 5
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy identifies and attacks cancer cells while trying to minimize damage to healthy cells. They attack the inner workings of the abnormal cells that differ from normal, healthy cells by attaching to a protein, interfering with rebuilding DNA, or another mechanism. 6
What is the treatment for ovarian cancer?
Radiation. Less commonly used in the U.S. for ovarian cancer, radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors in other parts of the body. Featured Stories of Inspiration. I have the Strength of My Ancestors in Me.
How many calls are there for ovarian cancer?
The first national ovarian cancer information hotline is established (1-888-OVARIAN), now averaging 10,000 calls each year.
When is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month?
NOCC and the ovarian community proclaim September as “National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.”
Do women with ovarian cancer have surgery?
Most women with ovarian cancer will have surgery at some point during the course of their disease, and each has different goals.
Does Memorial Sloan Kettering treat ovarian cancer?
At Memorial Sloan Kettering, our treatment approach for you will depend in large part on the stage of your cancer.
Is ovarian cancer a clinical trial?
Recent enhancements have also been made to chemotherapy regimens, such as intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and in finding immune system therapies. And we have numerous clinical trials for ovarian cancer underway at any given time, which means you might well have treatment options with us that aren’t available elsewhere.
How do doctors treat ovarian cancer?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), doctors usually treat ovarian cancer with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.
How often do they give ovarian cancer drugs?
They usually give these intravenously every 3–4 weeks for three to six cycles, depending on the stage of the ovarian cancer.
What is stage cancer?
Staging usually involves a surgeon performing a hysterectomy, which removes the uterus, and a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), which removes both ovaries and the fallopian tubes.
What is the number to call for ovarian cancer?
People who are looking for ovarian cancer support can call the American Cancer Society’s cancer helpline on 800-227-2345, chat with a representative online, or find programs or services in their area.
What are the stages of ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer stages range from 1–4. The lower the stage, the less the cancer has spread. Higher stages mean that the cancer has spread farther.
What is hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy involves a doctor using hormones or hormone-blocking drugs. Doctors do not often use this type of treatment for the most common type of ovarian cancer, epithelial ovarian cancer. However, they are likely to use this treatment for ovarian stromal tumors, which grow in the connective tissue of the ovaries.
Where does cancer spread during surgery?
The tissue surrounding the tumor tears during surgery, and the cancer spreads to the pelvis and abdomen.
What is the procedure for ovarian cancer?
In early-stage ovarian cancer, less-invasive laparoscopic surgery may be an option. This is done with a video camera and long, thin instruments inserted through tiny incisions.
What is targeted therapy for ovarian cancer?
Targeted therapy for ovarian cancer. Targeted drugs find and change specific traits of cancer cells that aren’t found in healthy cells. They do less damage to healthy tissue than chemotherapy or external radiation treatments. Tumors need blood vessels to grow and spread.
What are the factors that help guide treatment for ovarian cancer?
This is usually combined with chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted treatments. Some factors that help guide treatment are: your specific type of ovarian cancer. your stage at diagnosis. whether you’re pre- or postmenopausal. whether you plan to have children.
What is the procedure to remove ovaries?
A procedure called debulking cytoreductive surgery is used to treat stage 4 ovarian cancer. It involves removal of your ovaries and fallopian tubes, along with any other affected organs. This can include: uterus and cervix. pelvic lymph nodes. tissue that covers your intestines and lower abdominal organs.
What is a clinical trial for ovarian cancer?
Clinical trials for ovarian cancer. Clinical trials compare standard treatment with innovative new therapies not yet approved for general use. Clinical trials can involve people with any stage of cancer. Ask your oncologist whether a clinical trial is a good option for you.
How many times can you give ovarian cancer?
Epithelial ovarian cancer starts in cells on the outer lining of your ovaries. Treatment typically involves at least two IV drugs. They’re given three to six times, usually three to four weeks apart. The standard drug combination is cisplatin or carboplatin plus paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere).
What hormones are used to lower estrogen production in premenopausal women?
It’s more often used for stromal cancer. Luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone agonists are used to lower estrogen production in premenopausal women. Two of these are goserelin (Zoladex) and leuprolide (Lupron). They’re given by injection every one to three months.
What is the treatment for ovarian cancer?
Surgery is one of the main treatments for ovarian cancer. In most cases, one of the first big decisions is whether to start with surgery or chemotherapy. “The initial course of treatment is primarily determined by the extent of disease,” Boyd explained. Imaging tests, such as CT scans, and other diagnostic procedures help your doctor determine ...
What is the best treatment for cancer?
Radiation therapy: High-energy X-rays or particles are used to kill cancer cells. Hormone therapy: Hormones or hormone-blocking drugs are used to shift the balance of hormones in your body, which affects how some types of cancer grow. Targeted therapy: Drugs or other substances are used to target the inner workings of cancer cells.
Where does ovarian cancer start?
Ovarian cancer starts in the ovaries or far end of the fallopian tubes. Screening options are limited. By the time the cancer is diagnosed, it may have spread to the pelvis, abdomen, or other parts of the body. Surgery is one of the main treatments for ovarian cancer. In most cases, one of the first big decisions is whether to start with surgery ...
Can you retrieve eggs from your ovaries?
In some cases, they might suggest a procedure to retrieve eggs from your ovaries before you start treatment. In general, for most people, the best treatment plan for ovarian cancer depends in part on: the specific type of ovarian cancer. the location and extent of the cancer, including whether or not it has spread.
Can you remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes?
Surgery may involve removing only one ovary and fallopian tube. In some cases, it might involve removing both ovaries and fallopian tubes. In more advanced cases, surgery may mean removing both ovaries, fallopian tubes, the uterus, nearby lymph nodes, and a fold of fatty tissue known as the omentum.
Is ovarian cancer hard to treat?
Ovarian cancer has a reputation for being difficult to treat, but years of research have started to bring change. If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may have a wider range of treatment options than you realize.
Can complementary medicine help with side effects of chemotherapy?
Understanding the potential side effects of treatment can help you be prepared. If side effects develop, your doctor can recommend medications and complementary therapies to help you manage them. “A lot of complementary therapies can be particularly helpful for side effects of standard chemotherapy,” said Boyd.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Coping and Support
Specialist to consult
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. 1. Surgery:Doctors remove cancer tissue in an operation. 2. Chemotherapy:Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both. Different treatments may be provided by different...