Your ovarian cancer treatment options should be discussed thoroughly with your doctor, so that the benefits and disadvantages of each option may be carefully considered. The optimal ovarian cancer treatment for you will depend on various factors including your particular 'Type' of ovarian cancer its 'Stage'. Other factors such as your general state of health and any plans for child-bearing must also be considered (since most current treatment options sterilize the patient). Currently, your ovarian cancer treatment options include:
- Surgical Ovarian Cancer Treatment
- Radiation Ovarian Cancer Treatment
- Chemotherapy Ovarian Cancer Treatment
- Any Combination Of These 3 Ovarian Cancer Treatment Types
Surgical Ovarian Cancer Treatment
When discussing surgical ovarian cancer treatment your doctor may use terms such as:
- Oophorectomy - is surgical removal of the ovaries. It may involve only one side, (Unilateral Oophorectomy), or both sides (Bilateral Oophorectomy).
- Salpingectomy - is surgical removal of the fallopian tubes, which may also be Unilateral or Bilateral.
- Salpingo-Oophorectomy - is removal of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes.
- Debulking - is surgical removal of as much of the tumor as possible and is performed when the entire tumor cannot be removed.
Removal of both the ovaries and the uterus is sometimes recommended, but this obviously causes sterilization (preventing pregnancy), and occasionally makes women feel less feminine. However, this does not prevent or decrease sexual enjoyment, since the ovaries and uterus are not essential for orgasm.
Radiation Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Ovarian cancer treatment by radiation (Radiotherapy) involves the use of high-energy x-rays to kill the cancer cells. Radiotherapy is not considered the primary ovarian cancer, treatment, but it is considered for treating low-bulk, or Stage III and Stage IV cancers.
External Beam Radiotherapy - aims an x-ray beam directly at the tumor. The treatment lasts a few minutes, with only a very short exposure to radiation. As an ovarian cancer treatment, radiotherapy is administered 5 days a week over a course of several weeks. Side effects include: changes in skin texture, as well as nausea, fatigue or diarrhea. Your doctor should be able to prescribe drugs to provide relief of these symptoms.
Chemotherapy Ovarian Cancer Treatments
Chemotherapy ovarian cancer treatments use drugs (given orally or intravenously) to kill the cancer cells. These drugs are often selected to treat ovarian cancers that have spread beyond the ovaries, but the patient’s general health condition must be considered before chemotherapy is prescribed.
The anti-cancer drugs may be injected directly into the abdomen - directly reaching the abdominal lining, but also getting into the bloodstream. This form of 'systemic' treatment allows the drugs to reach any cancer cells located beyond the abdomen. However, the drugs also damage normal cells, causing side-effects such as hair loss, rashes, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss. Most of these side effects go away after chemotherapy has ended.
Chemotherapy cancer treatment may damage the ovaries temporarily, or permanently, and if the patient is not menopausal, the drugs may decrease hormone production of hormones, thereby affecting fertility. Chemotherapy can also produce symptoms of early menopause, and a loss of sexual appetite or desire for relationships may also be experienced.
Chemotherapy treatment for epithelial ovarian carcinoma usually involves 6 cycles (intravenous drug doses followed by a period of rest), with each cycle lasting 3-4 weeks. A combination of drugs is usually considered most effective, allowing the use of higher doses, decreasing side-effects, and also decreasing the likelihood of cancer cells developing resistance to the drugs.
Typical combination chemotherapy uses a platinum compound such as carboplatin with a taxane such as paclitaxel. Any cancer recurrence can be treated with additional cycles of taxane and a platinum compound, or with second line agents such as topotecan and anthracyclines.
Side Effects Of Chemotherapy Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy can damage bone marrow cells leading to low blood cell counts. This can cause side effects such as fatigue, increased chances of infection and excess bruising or bleeding.
Other side effects of Chemotherapy ovarian cancer treatment include: severe nausea, vomiting, and damage to the immune system, kidneys and liver. However, there now are ways to counter some of these effects. Traditional chemotherapy cancer treatments are prescribed generically based on the 'Stage' of the cancer.
ORT Inc. can now offer You a revolutionary new option. We enable your oncologist to tailor your chemotherapy to YOUR specific tumor characteristics, regardless of stage. The benefit of this approach, is that we are able to provide more effective treatment to YOUR specific tumor 'Type', minimizing side effects to You.
Experimental Ovarian Cancer Treatments
Researchers are continuously seeking new ovarian cancer treatments, aiming to increase increase the potency of the treatment while decreasing any side effects. The only way to prove these new treatments is to test them in patients with ovarian cancer. The women who choose to take part in such 'clinical trials' get the best possible medical care and also the chance to receive either a new treatment or the best known treatment. If you agree to take part in such a trial you can rest assured that the new treatment has been carefully tested to make sure it is safe..
