Ovarian Cancer

Treatment Options

A patient specific treatment plan for ovarian cancer is determined by several factors such as tumor location, stage, and the patient's age. Typically, it involves a combination of two or more treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Surgery: The complexity of the surgery performed for a patient with ovarian cancer depends on the stage of the cancer and the age of the patient. There are several type of surgeries available to treat ovarian cancer:

• Hysterectomy: Is a procedure used to completely remove the uterus.

• Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: A surgical procedure where the ovaries and fallopian tubes are completely removed. Sometimes, only the affected ovary is removed when the patient is a young female that wants children and the cancer is in an early stage.

• Cytoreduction or debulking: This is a complex surgical procedure performed for those patients for whom the cancer has spread into the abdominal cavity. During this procedure, the surgeon removes as much tumor tissue as possible.

Chemotherapy: In most cases, a surgical procedure is followed by a medication treatment plan called chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a common cancer treatment option and involves an intravenous or oral administration of a series of cancer-killing drugs. These drugs enter the bloodstream and treat already existing tumors developed outside the abdominal cavity or prevent the cancer from metastasizing.

A special type of chemotherapy used for the treatment of ovarian cancer is called intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy. Intraperitnoneal chemotherapy is similar with intravenous chemotherapy but the only difference is that the medication is administrated through a thin tube or catheter inserted through the skin in the abdomen. This tube can be inserted into the abdominal cavity during the surgery when certain affected organs are removed, or after surgery using a laparoscope. The advantage of this type of chemotherapy is that the medication is concentrated on and treats the affected area. However, these drugs still enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body - causing side effects similar to IV chemotherapy. The disadvantages of this technique are caused by the inserted tube which can become infected or plugged.

Chemotherapy has several side effects that depend on the type of drug administered, dosage, and length of treatment. The most frequent side effect of chemotherapy are: nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of energy, mouth soreness, loss of hair, as well as hand and foot rashes. Other side effects include damage to the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow, an increased chance of infection, and bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries. Chemotherapy can also cause permanent side effects such as menopause and infertility.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high focused x-rays to destroy cancer cells. There are several forms of radiation therapy:

• External beam radiation therapy: This form of radiation therapy uses a device called a linear accelerator that generates an external beam that is concentrated on the tumor area and breaks it up into smaller pieces. Sessions last a few minutes and are administered every day for several weeks. This procedure is similar to an x-ray. The most common side effects of this treatment option are: sunburned sensations or sunburned signs on the skin of the treated area, exhaustion, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and urinary difficulties. These side effects will fade in time after the treatment is stopped.

• Internal radiation or branchytherapy: This is not a common form of radiation therapy used for the treatment of ovarian cancer, and involves the implantation of a radioactive device into an area adjacent to the tumor.

• Radioactive phosphorus: Radioactive phosphorus is a substance which is inserted directly into the abdomen. The disadvantage of this treatment option are possible scars on the intestine and digestive problems like bowel blockage.

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Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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