When ovarian cancer is diagnosed, the doctor has to check for the current spread of it or the stages of ovarian cancer; this process is, therefore, referred to as staging. This will essentially determine how much cancerous tissue there is in the patient’s body, which will further impact the best ovarian cancer treatment. The sooner the cancer is diagnosed (in its earliest stages), the better the outlook is. This is why regular women’s wellness checkups are an absolute must. You’re welcome to seek the professional services of a women’s health specialist in Tamarac, FL. That said, we’ll proceed to explain further the different stages of ovarian cancer and applicable treatment options.
Ovarian Cancer Treatment Procedures
Surgery
Most cases of ovarian cancer are managed with the surgical removal of the malignant tissue. A patient’s overall health and the stage of cancer’s spread will determine the surgery type they are able to undergo. Doctors may be able to treat early-stage cancer without having to remove the uterus and ovaries. Surgery aims to achieve two key things, namely staging and debulking.
Staging
To determine how far cancer has spread, doctors use a staging system. Hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) are standard surgical procedures used for staging. These procedures entail the removal of the uterus and both ovaries and fallopian tubes, respectively.
The surgeon might also take out some lymph nodes from the pelvis and abdomen, as well as the omentum, a fatty tissue layer that lines the abdominal cavity. Moreover, they will drain the stomach and pelvic cavities if there is fluid there.
Debulking
Tumor debulking refers to the surgical process where the surgeon removes as much of the malignant tissue as possible. All half-inch and bigger tumors should be removed during surgery. This is what medical professionals mean when they talk about ideal debulking. Cancer patients whose tumors have undergone complete debulking have a better prognosis than those whose tumors have been left untreated.
Radiation Therapy
In radiation therapy, doctors expose patients to high-energy X-rays or particles to eradicate cancerous growths. Radiation therapy is rarely used to treat ovarian cancer because more effective and intensive chemotherapy is available. On the other hand, it might help treat secondary cancer sites.
Chemotherapy
The medications used in chemotherapy are often administered systemically, meaning they are injected into a vein and then distributed throughout the body through blood. Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously, orally, or transabdominally with a catheter.
Most commonly, two classes of medicines are used in chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. The doctors may use a cocktail of taxanes like docetaxel or paclitaxel with platinum compounds like carboplatin or cisplatin. Depending on the progression of ovarian cancer, they are administered intravenously every three to four weeks for anywhere between three and six cycles.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is a medical treatment that employs hormones or hormone-blocking medications. In most cases, this treatment is not used for epithelial ovarian cancer, which is the most frequent kind of this condition. On the other hand, this therapy will most likely be used to treat ovarian stromal tumors that develop in the ovary’s connective tissue.
Targeted Therapy
In targeted therapy, medications are used to specifically target cancer cells, killing them without harming any healthy cells in the process. Although the mechanisms of these targeted therapies and the ways they affect cancer cells vary, they nonetheless share certain commonalities, such as their effect on how cancer cells interact, grow, repair, and divide.
Immunotherapy
There is also the possibility of trying immunotherapy, which employs the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. When prior treatments have failed or hope for greater benefit, a physician may suggest combining immunotherapy with another form of therapy.
Don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Andrew Krinsky any questions about different procedures and share your thoughts and concerns about the available treatment options.
Treatment for Different Stages of Ovarian Cancer
Stage 1
In its earliest stage 1 form, ovarian cancer has not metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body and remains in the ovaries. Surgical removal of the tumor is the initial stage 1 ovarian cancer treatment. The uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are often all removed during a hysterectomy. Postoperative care and treatment are tailored to the disease’s specific substage:
- Stage 1A refers to cancer that’s only in one ovary.
- Stage 1B refers to cancer that’s affected both ovaries.
- Stage 1C refers to some or all of the following characteristics, namely the affected abdomen and pelvis due to surgical tears, the presence of cancer cells in the abdominal and pelvic fluid, the ruptured tumor tissue before the surgical procedure, and the presence of cancer on the ovarian surface.
Ovarian cancer patients diagnosed at stage 1B or 1C may require further treatment down the line, including chemotherapy and potentially more surgery.
Stage 2
Stage 2 ovarian cancer has migrated from the ovaries to other parts of the pelvis but has not yet moved to distant areas or surrounding lymph nodes.
- Stage 2A refers to the presence of cancer in fallopian tubes
- Stage 2B refers to the cancer’s presence in pelvic organs
A person may require staging and debulking surgery, which often entails hysterectomy, BSO, and chemotherapy.
Stage 3
Stage 3 cancer has spread within the abdomen or to nearby lymph nodes but has not spread to other areas of the body.
- Stage 3A refers to the presence of cancer in lymph nodes or beyond the pelvic area.
- Stage 3B refers to the presence of cancer in the abdominal cavity lining and possibly in the more distant lymph nodes.
- Stage 3C refers to tumors bigger than half an inch affecting the peritoneum and potentially abdominal lymph nodes, spleen, and liver.
In many cases, doctors will use the same strategies for treating stage 3 ovarian cancer as they would for stage 2. However, patients may need additional treatment, such as a longer period of chemotherapy and closer monitoring.
Stage 4
Cancer has spread to other parts of the body in stage 4. This condition is referred to as metastatic cancer.
- Stage 4A refers to the cancer presence in the fluid around the lungs
- Stage 4B refers to the cancer presence that’s beyond the abdominal area and possibly in the groin lymph nodes
Stage 4 ovarian cancer warrants a unique treatment plan. Commonly, chemotherapy is used first to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery is performed. Or, the doctor may decide to do surgery first, followed by chemotherapy. To treat patients who have not responded to prior treatments, the doctor may recommend a combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Understanding and navigating one’s treatment options is essential for a cancer patient, and this is especially true for those with ovarian cancer. Patients and their doctors should work together on all treatment decisions. We want to use this opportunity to emphasize the importance of regular wellness checkups for women. Spotting the cancerous cells early provides a much better outlook and promises more effective treatment results. If you’re looking for a trustworthy and professional clinic, feel free to reach out to us at Gynecology & Women’s Wellness.
