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Read about cancer treatment options listed by gene mutation, type of cancer and type of treatment.
Read about cancer treatment options listed by gene mutation, type of cancer and type of treatment.
Treatment for , ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer
Doctors base ovarian cancer treatment recommendations on several factors, including:
- and grade
- Subtype
- Response of cancer to platinum chemotherapy (known as platinum sensitivity)
- Additional testing, including biomarkers and genetic testing for an inherited mutation
Treatment for , ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer usually involves a combination of surgery and .
- Surgery for ovarian cancer consists of complete removal of the cancer, known as optimal debulking, whenever possible. Surgery also helps your doctor learn if the cancer has spread. Surgery before chemotherapy is used for patients who are healthy enough to endure an abdominal surgery with a 2-3 day hospital stay, and who have tumors that can be completely removed. In some cases, chemotherapy is given before surgery to help make the tumor smaller to remove as much of the tumor as possible. This is known as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
- treats the entire body in order to prevent or control spread to other areas. Systemic therapies include:
- Chemotherapy
- (e.g., Avastin)
- PARP inhibitors
- Hormonal therapy (used for ovarian stromal cell tumors)
Women in their childbearing years who wish to spare their fertility should speak to a specialist before surgery or other treatment.
Chemotherapy
- Treatment for ovarian cancer usually includes a type of agent known as platinum chemotherapy. Two common examples are carboplatin and cisplatin.
- A second type of chemotherapy, called a taxane, is usually combined with the platinum drug. Two common taxanes are paclitaxel and docetaxel.
Chemotherapy may be given in two different ways.
- Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy is injected into a vein.
- Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy is injected through a tube into the abdomen. Intraperitoneal therapy comes with additional side effects, and requires additional surgery to remove the port when chemotherapy is completed.
Platinum-sensitive vs. platinum-resistant
- Platinum resistant cancers are those that do not shrink during platinum chemotherapy, or those cancers that initially respond, but come back within 6 months of treatment.
- cancers respond to platinum treatment and do not recur for at least six months or longer.
Timing of treatment
- chemotherapy is given before surgery to some women with advanced cancer. The goal is to shrink the tumors to help the surgeon remove as much of the cancer as possible.
- After surgery, most women with high-grade and/or advanced ovarian cancer will receive chemotherapy. The goal of chemotherapy after surgery is to prevent recurrence or to control the growth and spread of the cancer. Some women with advanced ovarian cancer will also receive or as part of their post-surgery treatment.
- Women whose ovarian cancer has recurred may receive additional chemotherapy, or after recurrence, depending on response to initial treatment and tumor testing.
- is given to some women after they complete chemotherapy treatment to keep the cancer from coming back or growing. You can read more on .
The following organizations offer peer support services for people with, or at high risk for ovarian cancer:
- FORCE peer support
- Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once you register, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
- Private Facebook Group
- Virtual and in-person support meetings
- Join a Zoom community group meeting.
- LGBTQIA
- Men
- American Sign Language
- People of Color
- National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
- Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance
- Clearity Foundation
updated: 02/05/2022
Last updated January 23, 2022