How to Treat Stage III Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer begins in a woman's reproductive glands, the ovaries. Many types of tumors can grow here, including those that are benign, or non-cancerous. Malignant cancers, however, can spread to other parts of the body. The American Cancer Society recognizes three types of ovarian cancers: Epithelial tumors appear on the cells that cover the ovaries, germ cell tumors appear on the eggs, and stromal tumors start on hormone-producing tissues. Stage 3 ovarian cancer involves one or both ovaries. Also, the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the abdomen, or it has spread to the lymph nodes, or both.

Instructions

Treating Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer

• 1

  Talk to your oncologist about your surgical options. Surgical tumor debulking is one of the first lines of defense against allowing the cancer to spread and preventing the cancer from developing a resistance to chemotherapy. Your surgeon will remove as much of the cancer as possible, leaving as few cells to be destroyed by chemotherapy as possible.

• 2

  Get chemotherapy. For stage 3 ovarian cancer, this is one of the most common treatment methods.

• 3

  Consider radical treatment. At this advanced stage of disease, a hysterectomy may be essential in stopping the cancer from further ravaging glands and spreading to other areas of the body. Your oncologist may also recommend removing both fallopian tubes and both ovaries.

• 4

  Learn about clinical trials. Treatments and drugs are being developed and refined all the time. Discuss new trials with your treatment team and see if you would benefit from any. Find out how new trials can affect your recurrence prognosis and what the risks are.