Facts About Ovarian Cancer Treatment!

Ovarian cancer usually attacks your ovaries first.

Ovarian cancer treatment depends on several factors such as cancer type, stage of your cancer, age and overall health condition, family planning and personal preference.

So, understand the risks and the possible side effects of each treatment option before you prefer the one for your ovarian cancer treatment.

Ovarian cancer is of three types: epithelial, germ cell, and stromal [Detecting the type of ovarian cancer]. These types can be treated through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Occasionally, your doctor may recommend a combination of these treatment options.

Surgery

The most common ovarian cancer treatment option is surgery. Your doctor may recommend you for surgery if you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Surgery is used to remove cancerous cells as much as possible.

However, there are different types of surgeries for ovarian cancer. Remember that the name of the surgery depends on the organ that is removed and it always ends with ‘ectomy.’

A surgical procedure used to remove uterus is known as hysterectomy. During this surgery, if uterus is removed through vagina then it is known as vaginal hysterectomy.

If it is removed through large incisions in abdomen, then it is known as total abdominal hysterectomy. If it is through small incision in the abdomen with the use of laparoscope, it is known as total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

As there is a pair of ovaries, the cancer may attack one or both the ovaries. The surgical procedure that is used to remove one ovary and one fallopian tube is known as unilateral salpingooophorectomy whereas removal of both ovaries and both fallopian tubes is known as bilateral salpingooophorectomy.

However, if omentum is removed then it is called omentectomy. Omentum is a part of the tissue lining the abdominal wall.

Chemotherapy

It is a type of ovarian cancer treatment that makes use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy the cancer cells growth. These drugs either kills the cells or stops the cells from further division.

Chemotherapy can be used in four ways. The way the chemotherapy is used depends on cancer type and extent of the cancer.

When chemotherapy is used orally (by mouth) or injection into the vein or the muscle, then the anti-cancer drugs enter the bloodstream and destroys the cancer cells all over the body. This is known as systemic chemotherapy.

However, if chemotherapy is used in the form of injection into the abdominal cavity then the drugs mostly destroys the cancer cells in that particular area. This is known as regional chemotherapy.

Radiation Therapy

It is a type of ovarian cancer treatment option that involves high-energy x-rays or ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells.

The types include external radiation therapy that is used outside the body to pass radiation to kill the cancer cells. Internal radiation therapy makes use of radioactive substances that are placed directly into or near the cancer cells.

On the other hand, intraperitoneal radiation therapy is used where radioactive liquid will be place directly in the abdomen using a catheter. The way radiation therapy is applied is based on the type and the extent of ovarian cancer.