Ovarian Cancer Treatments

According to the Cancer Group Institute located on the web at www.cancergroup.com, ovarian cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer found in women, and contributes to 24,500 new cases every year – 14,200 of these women die. Ovarian cancer can very insidious and display few symptoms if any at all until the tumor has progressed to a lethal level.

The cause of ovarian cancer is not completely understood, but is thought to be related to a number of contributing factors, including heredity. Ovarian cancer treatments are more successful today than in the past, greatly due to more research being conducted and new therapies being developed.

At one time, women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer were beyond the point where they would benefit from treatment. Their only choice was to go through invasive surgery to remove the cancerous ovaries, but most of the time it was too late and the cancer had already to spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment for ovarian cancer usually consists of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination. According to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org, other considerations when looking at different treatment options should include reproductive status, general state of health, or other factors which may play an important part. Surgery may not be a viable option for patients whose health is compromised.

Chemotherapy is an effective ovarian cancer treatment, and may women have had their cancer eradicated successfully using this method, but the side effects are the downfall to this type of ovarian cancer treatment. Nausea and vomiting are quite common side effects of chemotherapy, as is hair loss, weight loss, decreased appetite, fatigue, skin rashes, mouth sores, bleeding and bruising, and increased risk of infection. Most side effects go away when treatment is completed.

The third type of ovarian cancer treatment, radiation therapy, is effective at reducing the size of the tumor thereby killing cancer cells and immediate areas where the tumor may have spread.

Ovarian cancer treatments have proven to be successful in the eradication of tumors and cancer cells from the body, but only the patient can make the final decision as how to proceed. It’s her body and her life, and she has to be her best advocate. There are many online sites dedicated to ovarian cancer treatment options as well as support groups, and online discussion forums that can provide education to women and increase awareness about ovarian cancer and early warning signs. The sooner the diagnosis is made, the better the chance for a full recovery. New ovarian cancer treatments are being developed all the time, so don’t lose hope.