Ovarian cancer is treated based on the stage of the disease and a patient's age and overall health. Stages range from I to IV, and surgery may be performed to determine the stage of disease.
Types
The National Cancer Institute recognizes three main forms of treatment for ovarian cancer. Surgery removes cancer from all affected areas; chemotherapy uses drugs to kills cancer cells; and radiation kills remaining cancer with x-rays.
Features
Surgery is used to treat all stages, whereas radiation is used on rare occasion. Chemotherapy is commonly used after surgery, but not for those with stage I cancer that has not spread beyond the ovaries.
Warning
The current treatments for ovarian cancer are not 100 percent effective. Sometimes the cancer may return or may not respond to treatment.
Prevention/Solution
Women should receive regular exams from their gynecologists, and cancer survivors should visit their doctors at least twice a year for several years after remission.
Considerations
According to PDR Health, there is about a 93 percent survivor rate of five years for ovarian cancer caught in stage I. The rate is less than 25 percent for stages III and IV.
Tags: ovarian cancer, stage disease