Ovarian Cancer Treatment

The range of reported lymphedema in patient who undergo pelvic lymph node dissection is between 5-30%. However, it is important to note that the range varies widely based on several factors such as the tools to measure lymphedema or the medical comorbidities of the patient such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The range of reported lymphedema in patient who undergo pelvic lymph node dissection is between 5-30%. However, it is important to note that the range varies widely based on several factors such as the tools to measure lymphedema or the medical comorbidities of the patient such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Laparoscopic surgery is generally not indicated in the setting of advanced disease. In other words, when patients have wide spread of disease the indicated approach is a laparotomy. This means an open abdominal incision. Typically, only patients with early cervical or endometrial cancer are candidates for laparoscopic surgery. It is important to emphasize that patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer are not candidates for laparoscopic surgery.

There are other potential contraindications to laparoscopic surgery. These include multiple prior abdominal surgeries, history of multiple bowel surgeries, severe cardiopulmonary disease, or extreme obesity.
Laparoscopic surgery is generally not indicated in the setting of advanced disease. In other words, when patients have wide spread of disease the indicated approach is a laparotomy. This means an open abdominal incision. Typically, only patients with early cervical or endometrial cancer are candidates for laparoscopic surgery. It is important to emphasize that patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer are not candidates for laparoscopic surgery.

There are other potential contraindications to laparoscopic surgery. These include multiple prior abdominal surgeries, history of multiple bowel surgeries, severe cardiopulmonary disease, or extreme obesity.

The majority of cases of ovarian cancer (approximately 75%) are diagnosed at stage III or IV (spread of cancer outside the ovaries and into the abdominal cavity or beyond). The primary difference is in prognosis. The percent of women with stage I ovarian cancer who are alive 5 years after diagnosis is around 83-89%. For women with stage II ovarian cancer, that number drops to 65-70%. For women with stage III, it drops to 32-45%; and for stage IV cancers, the number of women alive 5 years after their diagnosis is less than 20%.

The primary treatment for all stages of ovarian cancer is surgery. After surgery, chemotherapy is recommended for most women, regardless of stage. The majority of cases of ovarian cancer (approximately 75%) are diagnosed at stage III or IV (spread of cancer outside the ovaries and into the abdominal cavity or beyond). The primary difference is in prognosis. The percent of women with stage I ovarian cancer who are alive 5 years after diagnosis is around 83-89%. For women with stage II ovarian cancer, that number drops to 65-70%. For women with stage III, it drops to 32-45%; and for stage IV cancers, the number of women alive 5 years after their diagnosis is less than 20%.

The primary treatment for all stages of ovarian cancer is surgery. After surgery, chemotherapy is recommended for most women, regardless of stage.

My personal course of treatment followed that for Ovarian Cancer since that was my primary cancer. Upon my surgery it was found that there was a tumor that filled my entire uterus. The wording on my pathology report is "the endometrial and left ovarian tumors appear to be independent primaries. The cul de sac and right ovary tumors likely represent metastasis from the left ovary" My gyn/oncologist refered to the Ovarian Cancer as primary and the Uterine Cancer as Secondary Primary. I had a TAH/BSO (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oopherectomy) This is the removal of the uterus including the cervix as well as the tubes and ovaries using an incision in the abdomen. I also had my omentum and appendix removed. This was followed by 6 cycles of Chemo; Carboplatin and Taxol. My personal course of treatment followed that for Ovarian Cancer since that was my primary cancer. Upon my surgery it was found that there was a tumor that filled my entire uterus. The wording on my pathology report is "the endometrial and left ovarian tumors appear to be independent primaries. The cul de sac and right ovary tumors likely represent metastasis from the left ovary" My gyn/oncologist refered to the Ovarian Cancer as primary and the Uterine Cancer as Secondary Primary. I had a TAH/BSO (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oopherectomy) This is the removal of the uterus including the cervix as well as the tubes and ovaries using an incision in the abdomen. I also had my omentum and appendix removed. This was followed by 6 cycles of Chemo; Carboplatin and Taxol.