Ovarian cancer occurs when ovary cells start to grow abnormally and multiply uncontrollably to form a tumor. In 2017, as many as 22,000 women in the country were diagnosed with this ovarian cancer. If you do not undergo treatment for this condition, the tumor is likely to spread outside the ovary and into other body parts when it becomes metastatic ovarian cancer.

Types of ovarian cancer

Ovaries are composed of three cell types and each type can grow into a tumor. The epithelial tumors will be formed inside the tissue layer, outside the ovaries; nearly 90% of ovarian cancers belong to this category. Stromal tumors will develop in hormone-producing cells; about 7% of ovarian cancers belong to this type. Finally, germ cell tumors are found in egg-producing cells, and this type is very rare.

Treatment of ovarian cancer
An ovarian cancer treatment plan is determined by many factors, such as the overall health of the patient, whether she wants to conceive eventually, and the patient’s personal preferences. You must discuss all ovarian cancer treatment options properly with your doctor and be informed about their side-effects too. This can help your doctor decide on the best course of treatment for you. You should ideally get a second opinion to obtain more information and to feel confident about the treatment path your doctor has chosen.

Ways of treating ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer treatment is going to depend entirely on how much cancer has spread.

• Surgery
  Surgery is believed to be the most effective treatment for this type of cancer and it seeks to remove the tumor. However, the doctor may need to perform a hysterectomy to remove the whole uterus. You may also be advised to get your fallopian tubes, ovaries, pelvic tissues, and nearby lymph node, removed.
• Chemotherapy
  This may be needed to remove any cancer cells which are left in the body post-surgery. These chemo medications are typically administered through I.V. tubes but may also be injected into the abdomen to make them work faster.
• Radiation
  Here, high-energy X-rays are emitted to kill cancer cells that remain in your pelvic area. These are administered similar to X-rays and is effective when cancer returns or for controlling pain symptoms.
• Targeted therapy
  These are radiation and chemo together which will attack cancer cells but not affect normal body cells. Today, there are many new targeted therapies for curing advanced epithelial type.
• Hormone therapy
  It involves giving hormones and hormone-blocking medicines; this treatment is best suited for treating stromal tumors.
• Clinical trials
  They are regularly conducted by doctors for finding new cures. If you take part in such trials, you will be able to get access to the latest treatments but they are not fit for everyone.

Your surgeon will be conducting follow-up treatments to monitor the success. When laboratory tests reveal that there are no more cancer cells, it is said that it is in remission. So, successful treatment for ovarian cancer is possible; however, it will depend on which stage it has been diagnosed.