Surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy and radiation therapy are all viable ovarian cancer treatment options. Which option is best for you depends primarily on the stage and location of your tumor or tumors. Other factors to take into consideration are your age and whether or not you intend to become pregnant in the future.
Surgery
Your Gynecologic Oncologist will recommend a laparotomy in order to further diagnose the location, type and stage of the cancer. At the same time, he or she may remove one or both ovaries, the fallopian tubes, uterus and omentum – the layer of padded tissue that covers your intestines. Lymph nodes and tissue samples from the abdomen and pelvis may also be taken for diagnostic purposes.
Chemotherapy
Two different forms of chemotherapy may be used as ovarian cancer treatment. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivers the drug directly to the tumor area via a thin tube inserted into the abdomen. With systemic chemotherapy, the drug is injected or taken orally and kills cancerous cells as it travels throughout the body via the bloodstream. In most cases, chemotherapy follows surgery. However some women have chemotherapy prior to a laparotomy. Typically two or more drugs are given every three to four weeks for three to six cycles.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy uses drugs to interfere with cellular activity that the cancer depends on to survive and grow. Biotherapy has been effective in shrinking or slowing down the growth of advanced ovarian cancer.
Hormone Therapy
Certain drugs that lower estrogen levels in women have been found to be effective against stromal ovarian cancer. Drugs that affect gonadotropin-releasing hormone stop estrogen production in the ovaries. Aromatase inhibitors stop other hormones in post-menopausal women from turning into estrogen. Without estrogen the stromal ovarian cancer cells cannot grow.
Ovarian Cancer Radiation Therapy
Radiation is often prescribed in addition to surgery or in combination with chemotherapy. One of several highly sophisticated forms of External Beam Radiation Therapy or Internal Radiation Therapy may be recommended depending on the size and location of the tumor or tumors.