Fallopian Tube Cancer Treatments: Options & Outlook

Fallopian tubes are an important part of the female reproductive system, transporting eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Women can receive a variety of treatments for fallopian tube cancer, including surgery and chemotherapy.

Fallopian Tube Cancer

• Cancer occurs when a malignant group of cells form as a neoplasm or tumor in one or both of a woman's fallopian tubes.

Considerations

• Some of the factors a doctor will consider when suggesting a treatment option are the patient's age and medical history, as well as the stage of the disease.

Surgery

• In cases where the cancer has spread outside the fallopian tubes, a total abdominal hysterectomy is usually performed. This involves the removal of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy can be used as a treatment on its own or as follow-up to a surgery. Chemotherapy involves taking drugs orally or intravenously that will travel through the bloodstream to kill cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy

• Radiation therapy may be used as an alternative for chemotherapy. In the case of fallopian tube cancer, the therapy is called abdominopelvic radiotherapy.

Side Effects

• Patients may experience fatigue, hair loss or nausea from chemotherapy or radiation therapy, among other possible side effects.