Ovarian cancer treatment

Ovarian cancer diagnosis

The important stages of diagnostics are:

• Gynecological examination,
• Ultrasound scanning of the vagina and abdominal cavity,
• Laboratory tests and histological analysis,
• Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Ultrasound examinations (sonography)

Ultrasound of the internal genital organs is performed using a special ultrasound probe — it is inserted into the vagina. The doctor uses this method to detect abnormalities in internal organs. This examination is completely painless.

Ovarian cancer treatment

The following methods are used:

• surgical intervention (adnexectomy),
• chemical, palliative or targeted therapy.

Surgery

The operation is performed with open access (longitudinal abdominal incision) or minimally invasive — laparoscopic. During the operation, the affected ovary is excised. To determine the malignancy of the formation in foreign hospitals, material is sent to the pathological department for examination. The pathologist examines the tissue during the operation and reports whether it is really oncology. The operation will continue only if the diagnosis is confirmed.

The goal of the operation is to completely remove the tumor. In the last stages, the following are usually removed:

• ovaries,
• the fallopian tubes,
• uterus,
• parts of the peritoneum.

Sometimes, to completely eliminate the pathological process, you have to remove parts of the intestine or appendix. If only one ovary is affected, and the tumor is limited and not aggressive (stage 1,2) — fertility-preserving surgery is performed. This means that a woman will be able to get pregnant and have children in the future.

What determines the consequences of the operation

Since this is a very large operation, it takes a lot of time to find an experienced doctor and specialized center. This increases the chances of complete removal of the neoplasm — an important factor in terms of prognosis and survival. On the MedTour platform, you will find qualified oncologists and surgeons specialized in the removal of ovarian cancer.

Drug therapy

Chemotherapy is aimed at killing cancer cells with drugs. They act against fast-growing cells and inhibit their growth. The appropriate combination depends on the physical condition of the patient and the underlying medical conditions.
The international protocol consists of a combination of two drugs:

• carboplatin,
• paclitaxel.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy involves the addition of the active ingredient bevacizumab to the above chemotherapy. This drug stops the supply of nutrients to the tumor and prevents the formation of new blood vessels. This affects the ability of the tumor to grow and spread.