How is Ovarian Cancer Treated

Treatment for ovarian cancer usually involves surgery and chemotherapy. Radiotherapy may be used on a less frequent occasion.

A Gynaecological Oncologist specialises in treating cancers of the reproduction tract and has very specialised skills. Research shows that women with ovarian cancer have a better outcome when they are treated by a Gynaecological Oncologist. Ovarian Cancer Australia strongly recommends women are treated in a multidisciplinary medical environment to ensure access to best practice standards.

Surgery

The first treatment for ovarian cancer is usually an operation called a laparotomy. In this operation a long vertical cut is made in the abdomen, which allows the surgeon to find and remove as much of the tumour as possible. In many cases, the surgeon will do a biopsy of the tumour at the beginning of the operation to confirm that it is cancer. This is called a frozen section. If it is confirmed as cancer the operation will continue. For most women the operation will involve the removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the uterus, the omentum, the appendix and some of the lymph glands in the area. Sometimes it may be necessary to remove some of the bowel. After the operation, samples of the tissue from the ovary itself, pelvic lymph glands and other organs are sent to a laboratory for further examination. The results of these biopsies will provide more information about the type and extent of the cancer. This examination of the tissue enables the gynaecological oncologist to make decisions about the further treatment after the operation.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer using anti-cancer drugs. Chemotherapy treatment is under the guidance of a medical oncologist. The aim is to destroy cancer cells while causing the least possible damage to normal cells. The drugs kill cancer cells by stopping them from multiplying. Chemotherapy works best when the tumour is small and the cancer cells are actively growing. With ovarian cancer, even though most of the cancer may have been removed at the time of the operation, there may be some cancer cells left. For this reason, chemotherapy works best if started soon after the operation. Chemotherapy is usually given through an intravenous drip, particularly as a first line treatment. The number of treatments, usually six, will be given every three to four weeks over several months. Blood tests are taken before each treatment to ensure that the body's normal cells have had time to recover. Blood tests to measure the effectiveness of the treatment will also be taken. A CT scan may also be taken, usually after the third treatment, to check that the patient is responding to treatment.

Further chemotherapy may be needed if your cancer does not respond completely to the initial treatment. It may also be needed if the disease comes back in the future. The drugs used in further treatments will depend on what drugs the patient has previously had, as well as the aims of the treatment.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is occasionally used for women with ovarian cancer, especially if it is confined to the pelvic cavity. Radiotherapy is a treatment with special X-rays aimed specifically at the site of the cancer. The X-ray damages the DNA or genetic code in the cancer cells and this damage kills the cancer cells when they try to grow. Treatment can be external or internal and is given daily over a number of weeks.