3 Main Treatment Options for Ovarian Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, about 21,750 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer and about 13,940 women will die from ovarian cancer in 2020. This type of cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. Although monitoring treatment options for ovarian cancer is overwhelming, it’s an important part of the process if you have ovarian cancer. 

Experts distinguish five main options for ovarian cancer treatment. Your doctor might recommend a particular treatment option depending on the type and stage of your ovarian cancer. Here are five major forms of ovarian cancer treatment: 

1. Chemotherapy 

Chemotherapy involves using specific drugs to fight cancer. Chemo drugs are injected into your vein and go into the bloodstream to all areas of the body. Chemotherapy works by killing cancer even at the early stages that might still be present in the body after surgery. Chemo is also able to treat cancers that have already spread and reduce large tumors to make it easier to remove them surgically. Chemotherapy is not used in the cases of early cancer or slower-growing types when surgery might be enough. 

Unfortunately, chemotherapy causes many side effects like hair loss, vomiting, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, severe fatigue, mouth sores, and many other unpleasant things. Talk to your doctor to find out more information about this treatment option and its consequences. 

2. Targeted therapy 

Targeted therapy is a relatively new and more advanced way to fight cancer. It involves using drugs that, unlike chemo drugs, work to attack particularly cancer cells in the body while not harming normal cells. Targeted therapy works by preventing cancer cells from growing and multiplying.  

Targeted therapy includes different options such as bevacizumab and poly (ADP)-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARP inhibitors). Bevacizumab attaches to a protein called VEGF that encourages new blood vessels that can be used by tumors. The drug affects VEGF and thus reduces the chance of growth of cancer cells. This type of targeted therapy can trigger side effects including fatigue, mouth sores, anemia, headaches, and high blood pressure. 

Another type of targeted therapy called poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARP inhibitors) is aimed at blocking enzymes that repair damaged DNA inside tumor cells and thus promote the death of cancer cells. PARP inhibitors can lead to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and joint and muscle pain. PARP inhibitors have been linked to cases of blood cancer, but don’t let that immediately scare you away from them. Instead, it’s better to weigh the risks and benefits of this type of treatment with your gynecologist and oncologist.

3. Surgery 

Surgery is probably the most common type of ovarian cancer treatment and is usually combined with other treatment options. Unfortunately, oftentimes, ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the later stages, therefore surgery is extremely common in this case. 

The extent of surgery success depends on the type of ovarian cancer. There are three types of ovarian cancer: epithelial ovarian cancer, germ cell ovarian cancer, and stromal ovarian cancer. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer which makes up approximately 90 percent of all cases. 

In epithelial ovarian cancer, surgery might involve “staging” to see where cancer has spread beside the ovary. Germ cell ovarian cancer makes up more than two percent of all ovarian cancer cases. The first-line of treatment is often the same as with epithelial ovarian cancer, meaning it involves staging by removing the uterus and both ovaries/fallopian tubes, along with debulking if necessary. Stromal ovarian cancer is the rarest type of ovarian cancer that typically occurs in one ovary, therefore surgery might only involve removing that ovary and fallopian tube.