Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Ovaries are the reproductive glands in females, which produce the eggs and the female sex hormones. Uncontrolled growth of cells in the ovaries are termed as ovarian cancer. These cells can form a mass of tissues called tumor. Some tumors, and specially those in the ovaries, can be cancerous. Some ovarian cysts can also turn malignant, in rare cases.

For proper treatment of this disease, it is necessary to find out the extent of growth of the cancer cells. For this purpose, ovarian cancer can be classified into four stages. Stage I denotes the presence of cancer cells on the surface of one or both ovaries, and in the abdomen fluid. Stage II refers to the spreading of cancer cells to the surrounding tissues. Other than the ovaries, it may be found on the fallopian tubes, uterus and the tissues in the pelvis. In stage III, cancer cells spread to the tissues outside the pelvis and can be found on surface of the liver. Stage IV refers to spreading of cancer cells outside the pelvis and abdomen, and it may be found inside liver, lungs and other organs of the body. Treatment for this disease depends on the stage of cancer growth. Generally, the treatment includes surgery and chemotherapy, but in rare cases radiation therapy is also used.

Surgery
Surgery involves removal of one or both the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes. If the patient wants to conceive in future, then only the affected ovary and fallopian tube are removed, but this is possible only if the cancer is in its very early stages. Surgical removal of one ovary is unilateral oophorectomy; for both ovaries, it will be bilateral oophorectomy; salpingectomy for fallopian tubes and hysterectomy for removal of uterus. Removal of one ovary and fallopian tube is termed as unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

If the cancer is spread (advanced stages), then 'debulking surgery' is performed, to remove maximum number of cancer cells possible. In such cases, the thin fatty tissues (omentum) which cover the intestines, nearby lymph nodes, samples of tissues from pelvis and abdomen are also removed. It is always better to approach a gynecologic oncologist to perform ovarian cancer surgery.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is administration of the anti-cancer drugs, in order to kill the remaining cancer cells after the surgery. In some cases surgery is done after chemotherapy. Usually, more than one drug is involved in chemotherapy. These drugs are given through veins, mouth or intravenous medications along with direct supply to the abdomen (intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy). These administration of drugs is carried out in intervals. Treatment period is succeeded by a resting period and vice versa. This therapy can sometimes affect normal cells like blood cells, cells in the hair root, etc.

Radiation Therapy
Directing high energy rays to the affected part, in order to kill the cancer cells, is called radiation therapy. It is useful in the initial stages of ovarian cancer. If the cancer has spread to other organs, then radiation therapy is not advisable, as it can cause damage to them. Hence, radiation therapy is scarcely used to treat advance stages of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer, at its initial stages is easy to treat and cure. Once spread, it can cause complications. Hence, it is very important to consult a gynecologist, as soon as the symptoms appear. Symptoms include diarrhea, constipation or gas, abdominal pain, breathing trouble, back pain, bloating, abnormal vaginal bleeding, etc.