Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer treatment depends on the stage of the disease, the woman’s age, and her general health. The primary treatment for ovarian cancer at an early stage is surgery to remove one or both ovaries, and often the uterus and fallopian tubes, as well.

In advanced stages of the disease, the cancer has spread. Treatment generally calls for a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, treatment using anticancer drugs such as carboplatin, cisplatin, or paclitaxel. The drugs are usually administered intravenously or orally. Doctors also may inject anticancer drugs directly into the abdomen, a procedure called intraperitoneal (IP) treatment. Researchers have found that adding IP therapy can extend the lives of ovarian cancer patients.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 75 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive for at least one year after diagnosis, and about 45 percent of them survive for five years. The rate is higher for women diagnosed with the disease before age 65. The outlook is much more promising if the cancer is diagnosed and treated while still localized. In these cases, the five-year survival rate is greater than 90 percent. Less than 20 percent of all cases are detected at this stage, however.