Ovarian Cancer Treatments
The cornerstone of treatment for ovarian cancer is surgery. It is aimed at removing as
much of the cancer as possible. Chemotherapy, which involves the use of anticancer drugs
to kill the cancer cells, is usually administered after the surgery to destroy any
remaining cancer. Radiation therapy is not routinely used for ovarian cancer.
What type of surgery is used in treatment of Ovarian Cancer?
The type of surgery depends on the extent of spread of the disease. In most procedures,
the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes are completely removed. In rare cases, if the
cancer is not very aggressive and the woman is young and has not had children, a more
conservative approach may be adopted. Only one ovary may be removed, and, if possible, the
fallopian tubes and the uterus may be left intact.
Additional Ovarian Cancer Treatments
Occasionally, in addition to the female reproductive organs, the appendix may also be
removed. The liver and the intestine will be examined for signs of cancer and may be
biopsied. Ovarian cancer spreads contiguously, which means that it moves to the organs
that are next to it. The intestines, the diaphragm (which separates the abdominal cavity
from the chest cavity), and the omentum (a sheet-like tissue that connects parts of the
abdominal cavity)--indeed, the entire surface of the abdominal cavity--may be studded with
disease. In these cases, extensive surgery may be needed to remove as much as possible.
Ovarian Cancer Picture
Ovarian Cancer Ultrasound
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