Based on the intensity of the disease and at what pace the cancer is spreading throughout the body, stages of ovarian cancer are evaluated. The treatment of this kind of cancer depends upon how far the disease has spread. Carving out a strict treatment plan is entirely based on the situation at hand. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and surgery at that particular stage of cancer to remove the tumor are some of the common treatment procedures.
Let us have a close look at each of the stages of ovarian cancer.
- The first stage of ovarian cancer is further subdivided into three sub-stages. When the cancer is limited to a particular place, the localized stage in one ovary is known as stage 1A. When cancer spreads to both the ovaries it belongs to stage 1B. In stage 1C cancer cells are found in the region outside the ovary also.
- The condition deteriorates as the tumors spread to the pelvic structures in stage 2. It first spreads to the uterus or the fallopian tubes in stage 2A, and then to the urinary bladder and rectum in stage 2B.
- Ovarian cancer treatment cost in India is comparatively lower than in western countries. In stage 3A, cancer naturally spreads beyond the pelvic area and catches up with the lining of the abdominal region and the lymph nodes present in the same. In stage 3B, cancer cells are noted in the domain outside the liver or the spleen. In stage 3C, the cancer cells form a heavy deposit, at least of 3 to 4 of an inch either on the abdomen or external to the liver and spleen. However ovarian cancer does not spread inside the spleen and liver.
- In the last stage of cancer which is stage 4, the tumor is completely in the stage of metastasis, or has successfully spread beyond the pelvic area, and abdominal lymph nodes, and is further invading the liver or lungs. In stage 4A, cancer cells are found in the fluid circulating around the lungs. In stage 4B, the cells have already penetrated the spleen of the liver cells. This is identified as the most advanced stage of cancer when it is attacking distant organs like the brain and skin.
Surgery to get rid of the symptoms of ovarian cancer is the main treatment that one should go for. The main aim of the surgical procedure is to remove the tumor to prevent it from spreading further, but in some severe cases, the doctors may require to completely remove both the fallopian tubes as well as the uterus in case of a hysterectomy. Depending on the security of the connection you might also be recommended for the removal of both the ovaries, associated lymph nodes, and other pelvic tissues. Expensive research is going on to identify better ways to enhance the surgical procedure to make it much easier the remove all kinds of cancerous tissues. Radiation treatment, and different types of chemotherapy, are a few of the targeted therapies that invade the cancer cells and do minimal damage to the body’s normal cells.