Surgery and cancer medicines are the main treatments for ovarian cancer.
The type of treatment you have will depend on:
- the size and type of ovarian cancer
- where it is
- if it has spread to other parts of your body
- your general health
The main aim of treatment is to remove the cancer, if possible. If the cancer is advanced, treatment aims to relieve symptoms and control the cancer for as long as possible.
You'll be cared for by a team of healthcare professionals. They will create a treatment plan and support you throughout your care. This team is called your multidisciplinary team (MDT) or care team.
Surgery
Surgery is often the main treatment for ovarian cancer. The aim is to remove all of the cancer, or as much of it as possible.
Surgery usually involves removing:
- both ovaries and the fallopian tubes
- the womb (a hysterectomy)
- a layer of fatty tissue in the tummy (the omentum)
If the cancer is in 1 ovary, you may just have this ovary removed. This means you may still be able to have children, if this is your wish.
Some people need to have their appendix or part of their bowel removed. You may need a stoma (an opening on your tummy that is connected to a bag). This does not happen often.
You will have surgery under general anaesthetic (where you're asleep). You will probably need to stay in hospital for a few days. But it may take many weeks to fully recover.
Cancer medicines
Your care team may recommend treatment with cancer medicines. These will be to either kill or slow the growth of cancer cells.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells.
It is also known as cytotoxic chemotherapy or cytotoxic cancer medicine. Cytotoxic means toxic to cells.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy uses medicines to find and attack cancer cells.
Targeted therapy medicines target parts of cancer cells that have gene changes (mutations) that make them different from normal cells.
You will only be offered targeted therapy if your cancer has these gene changes.
You may have tests to check if targeted therapy is likely to work for you.
Hormone therapy
A hormone therapy can:
- lower the amount of certain hormones in your body
- block certain hormones from getting to cancer cells
You will only be offered hormone therapy for cancer if you have a type of cancer that depends on hormones to grow.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses carefully directed beams of radiation to kill cancer cells. It's not used very often to treat ovarian cancer.
But it may be used:
- after surgery for early ovarian cancer, to kill any cancer cells left behind
- to shrink tumours and ease symptoms if ovarian cancer has spread and cannot be cured
Common side effects of radiotherapy include sore skin, tiredness and hair loss in the treated area. These should pass after treatment stops.
Cancer trials
Clinical trials are research studies that help you access new treatments for your cancer.
Your doctor or care team can tell you if there is a clinical trial available that would be suitable you.