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After investigations depending on if it is an early stage or advanced cancer, further management is decided by the multidisciplinary tumour board. In the case of progressive disease, the patient may be treated with chemotherapy to reduce the tumour size and then operated upon. Surgery aims to remove all macroscopically visible tumours in the abdomen. Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is a recent advancement in treating patients with advanced ovarian cancers.
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Medical Oncology
- Depending on the stage of the disease, the doctors offer various surgical options are offered to the patient.
- Unilateral Oophorectomy - Surgery to remove one ovary - Surgery for early-stage cancer that hasn't spread beyond one ovary, surgery may involve removing the affected ovary and its fallopian tube. This procedure may preserve the patient’s ability to have children.
- Bilateral Oophorectomy - Surgery to remove both ovaries - If cancer is present in both the ovaries, but there are no signs of additional cancer, the surgeon may remove both ovaries and both fallopian tubes. This procedure leaves the uterus intact, so you may still be able to become pregnant using your own frozen embryos or eggs or with eggs from a donor.
- Total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy - Surgery to remove both ovaries and the uterus with the fallopian tubes. Suppose your cancer is more extensive, or you don't wish to preserve the uterus. In that case, the surgeon will remove the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and nearby lymph nodes with or without bowel resection.
- Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells or stop their growth. It is used as a palliative treatment in advanced ovarian cancers..
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Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is recommended for treating advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer. It is also used when cancer has metastasized (spread) into other organs or tissues. Chemotherapy is sometimes recommended after surgery if there's an increased risk of cancer returning. The doctors can also use Chemotherapy c to shrink cancer before surgery. -
Targeted drug therapy -
The indication for targeted therapy is based on molecular changes in the cancer cell. This is usually combined with chemotherapy and may be an option in selected cases. In the case of recurrent disease, specific targeted therapy may be an option based on the molecular alterations noted in the tumour. -
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a drug treatment that uses the immune system to fight cancer. For ovarian cancer, the doctors consider immunotherapy may be considered in a carefully selected group of patients where investigations show that immunotherapy may be beneficial.