We understand that you probably have many questions and concerns as you prepare for treatment for ovarian cancer. There is no question too small or simple to ask. Your care team will be with you every step of the way, ready to help.
At Siteman, WashU Medicine physicians will design a treatment plan that is unique to you. It will be created for your cancer, your lifestyle, your age, and your goals. If you still hope to have children, there are steps we can take to make that possible later on. At your first appointment, we will set treatment goals aimed at helping you feel better now and in the future.
Most patients with ovarian cancer will be treated with a combination of surgery and medications.
Surgery for Ovarian Cancer
Surgery is often the first line of treatment for ovarian cancer patients. For patients with early-stage cancers, surgery may be the only treatment necessary.
When you come to Siteman for ovarian cancer surgery, you will be in good hands. Our surgeons will lead your care. They treat hundreds of patients with ovarian cancer each year. They are at the top of their field and are skilled at removing ovarian tumors safely.
You may have one of the following procedures:
- Ovary removal: This procedure is called a salpingo-oophorectomy. Your surgeon will remove the ovary affected by cancer as well as the fallopian tube. You may have this procedure if the cancer is at an early stage and limited to one ovary.
- Removal of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes: This is called a “total hysterectomy.” Most patients with ovarian cancer will have this procedure.
- Omentectomy: This is a procedure to remove the layer of tissue covering the organs in your belly. This layer is called the “omentum.” Sometimes, ovarian cancer can spread to the omentum. Your surgeon may remove the omentum while doing another procedure.
- Cytoreductive surgery: This procedure is done when ovarian cancer has spread beyond the ovaries and into the belly. The surgeon will remove all visible tumor tissue within the abdomen and pelvis. Patients often have their ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes removed as well. WashU Medicine physicians at Siteman helped pioneer this procedure and are highly skilled at performing it safely and effectively.
- Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC): This is a special treatment that is done at the same time as a surgical procedure. During HIPEC, your team will place a high dose of a heated chemotherapy directly into your belly (abdomen) to kill cancer cells.
What is minimally-invasive surgery for ovarian cancer?
Minimally-invasive surgery is done through several small incisions, instead of one large one. Your surgeons will use special tools and cameras to do the surgery inside your body. It is possible to remove the ovaries and the uterus without making a large incision.
Benefits of minimally-invasive surgery include:
- Less blood clots
- A lower risk of infection
- Less time in the hospital
- Quicker recovery time
Not all patients can have a minimally-invasive surgery. It depends on many factors. One major consideration is how the tumor interacts with major blood vessels. WashU Medicine physicians at Siteman will try to do minimally-invasive surgeries whenever possible.
Drug Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
Most patients with ovarian cancer will take medications to help treat their cancer. These might include:
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapies are powerful medicines that kill cancer cells wherever they are in the body. Patients with ovarian cancer typically receive chemotherapy through an IV. Researchers at Siteman are working to find new combinations of chemotherapies that have fewer side effects and may even be more effective.
- Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapies are medications that stop cancer cells from growing and multiplying. They can be helpful to some ovarian cancer patients. If your cancer is caused by a BRCA mutation, your physician may suggest targeted medications called PARP inhibitors that stop cancer cells from repairing their DNA. Ovarian cancer patients take targeted therapies as pills or through an IV.
When is radiation therapy used to treat ovarian cancer?
Sometimes, patients with ovarian cancer may benefit from radiation therapy. Your doctor may recommend radiation therapy if your cancer has spread to other parts of your body (metastasized). Radiation therapy can help eliminate these cancer cells.
Fertility Preservation
Undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer often causes women to lose their fertility. Many patients with ovarian cancer have already gone through menopause. This means that they were already unable to have children. But younger patients have not gone through menopause yet. These patients may still hope to have children, and the treatment they need can challenge that hope.
Siteman has services that can support and preserve fertility for these patients.
We offer services and procedures through WashU Medicine’s Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center. These experts can help patient pursue parenthood through:
- Egg banking
- Embryo storage