What Are the Treatments for Cancer of the Ovaries?

Ovarian cancer is treated based on the stage of the disease and a patient's age and overall health. Stages range from I to IV, and surgery may be performed to determine the stage of disease.

Types

• The National Cancer Institute recognizes three main forms of treatment for ovarian cancer. Surgery removes cancer from all affected areas; chemotherapy uses drugs to kills cancer cells; and radiation kills remaining cancer with x-rays.

Features

• Surgery is used to treat all stages, whereas radiation is used on rare occasion. Chemotherapy is commonly used after surgery, but not for those with stage I cancer that has not spread beyond the ovaries.

Warning

• The current treatments for ovarian cancer are not 100 percent effective. Sometimes the cancer may return or may not respond to treatment.

Prevention/Solution

• Women should receive regular exams from their gynecologists, and cancer survivors should visit their doctors at least twice a year for several years after remission.

Considerations

• According to PDR Health, there is about a 93 percent survivor rate of five years for ovarian cancer caught in stage I. The rate is less than 25 percent for stages III and IV.