Treatments for Ovarian Cancer
Treatments for Ovarian Cancer
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Ovarian Cancer
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Ovarian Cancer: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Ovarian Cancer may include:
Hidden causes of Ovarian Cancer may be incorrectly diagnosed:
Ovarian Cancer: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Ovarian Cancer:
Curable Types of Ovarian Cancer
Possibly curable types of Ovarian Cancer may include:
Ovarian Cancer: Research Doctors & Specialists
- Pregnancy & Fertility Health Specialists:
- Womens Health Specialists:
- Cancer Specialists:
- more specialists...»
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Drugs and Medications used to treat Ovarian Cancer:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Ovarian Cancer include:
Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Ovarian Cancer:
Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Ovarian Cancer include:
- Chlorambucil
- Leukeran
- Alti-Chlorambucil
- Medroxyprogesterone - used as part of combination therapy
- Alti-MPA - used as part of combination therapy
- Amen - used as part of combination therapy
- Curretab - used as part of combination therapy
- Cycrin - used as part of combination therapy
- Depo-Provera - used as part of combination therapy
- Premphase - used as part of combination therapy
- Prempro - used as part of combination therapy
- Proclim - used as part of combination therapy
- Provera - used as part of combination therapy
- Riva-Medrone - used as part of combination therapy
- Docetaxel
- Taxotere
- Gemcitabine
- Gemzar
- Mifepristone
- RU-486
- RU-38486
- Mifeprex
- Oxaliplatin
- Eloxatin
Latest treatments for Ovarian Cancer:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Ovarian Cancer:
Hospital statistics for Ovarian Cancer:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Ovarian Cancer:
- 0.27% (34,086) of hospital consultant episodes were for malignant neoplasm of ovary in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 94% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of ovary required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 100% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of ovary were women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 14% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of ovary required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Ovarian Cancer
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Ovarian Cancer:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Ovarian Cancer,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Ovarian Cancer:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Ovarian Cancer:
Discussion of treatments for Ovarian Cancer:
Ovarian Cancer: NWHIC (Excerpt)
After the initial diagnosis has been established at surgery, additional
therapy will depend on several factors, including the histologic cell
type, the stage, the extent of spread of the cancer; and the residual
tumor remaining at the end of the initial surgery.
Treatment includes chemotherapy (usually a combination of drugs), or
radiation. Other treatment options may include immunotherapy, or in the
future, gene therapy.
(Source: excerpt from Ovarian Cancer: NWHIC)
What You Need To Know About Ovarian Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)
Treatment depends on a number of factors, including the
stage of the disease and the general health of the patient.
Patients are often treated by a team of specialists. The team
may include a gynecologist ,
a gynecologic
oncologist , a medical
oncologist , and/or a radiation
oncologist . Many different treatments and combinations
of treatments are used to treat ovarian cancer.
-
Surgery
is the usual initial treatment for women diagnosed with
ovarian cancer. The ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the
uterus, and the cervix are usually removed. This operation
is called a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy .
Often, the surgeon also removes the omentum
(the thin tissue covering the stomach and large intestine)
and lymph
nodes (small organs located along the channels of
the lymphatic system) in the abdomen.
Staging during surgery (to find out whether the cancer
has spread) generally involves removing lymph nodes, samples
of tissue from the diaphragm and other organs in the
abdomen, and fluid from the abdomen. If the cancer has
spread, the surgeon usually removes as much of the cancer as
possible in a procedure called tumor
debulking . Tumor debulking reduces the amount of
cancer that will have to be treated later with chemotherapy
or radiation therapy.
-
Chemotherapy
is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may
be given to destroy any cancerous cells that may remain in
the body after surgery, to control tumor growth, or to
relieve symptoms of the disease.
Most drugs used to treat ovarian cancer are given by
injection into a vein (intravenously,
or IV ). The drugs can be injected directly into a
vein or given through a catheter ,
a thin tube. The catheter is placed into a large vein and
remains there as long as it is needed. Some anticancer drugs
are taken by mouth. Whether they are given intravenously or
by mouth, the drugs enter the bloodstream and circulate
throughout the body.
Another way to give chemotherapy is to put the drug
directly into the abdomen through a catheter. With this
method, called intraperitoneal
chemotherapy , most of the drug remains in the
abdomen.
After chemotherapy is completed, second-look
surgery may be performed to examine the abdomen
directly. The surgeon may remove fluid and tissue samples to
see whether the anticancer drugs have been successful.
-
Radiation
therapy , also called radiotherapy, involves the
use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation
therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area.
The radiation may come from a machine (external
radiation ). Some women receive a treatment called
intraperitoneal
radiation therapy in which radioactive
liquid is put directly into the abdomen through a
catheter.
(Source: excerpt from
What You Need To Know About Ovarian Cancer: NCI)
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Book Excerpts: Treatment of Ovarian Cancer
Treatments of Ovarian Cancer: Online Medical Books
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for more information about the treatments of Ovarian Cancer.
Ovarian cysts:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Follicular cysts generally don’t require treatment because they tend to disappear spontaneously within 60 days. However, if they interfere with daily activities, clomiphene citrate by mouth for 5 days or progesterone I.M. (also for 5 days) re-establishes the ovarian hormonal cycle and induces ovulation. Hormonal contraceptives haven’t been proven to accelerate involution of functional cysts (including both types of lutein cysts and follicular cysts).
Treatment for granulosa-lutein cysts that occur during pregnancy is aimed at relieving symptoms because these cysts diminish during the third trimester and rarely require surgery. Theca-lutein cysts disappear spontaneously after elimination of the hydatidiform mole, destruction of choriocarcinoma, or discontinuation of hCG or clomiphene citrate therapy.
Treatment of polycystic ovarian disease may include the administration of such drugs as clomiphene citrate to induce ovulation, medroxyprogesterone acetate for 10 days of every month for the patient who doesn’t want to become pregnant, or low-dose hormonal contraceptives for the patient who needs reliable contraception.
Surgery, in the form of laparoscopy or exploratory laparotomy with possible ovarian cystectomy or oophorectomy, may become necessary if an ovarian cyst is found to be persistent or suspicious.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Uterine cancer:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Treatment varies, depending on the extent of the disease:
❑Surgery — Rarely curative, surgery generally involves total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, or possibly omentectomy with or without pelvic or para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Total exenteration involves removal of all pelvic organs, including the vagina, and is done only when the disease is sufficiently contained to allow surgical removal of diseased parts. (See Managing pelvic exenteration, page 114.)
❑Radiation therapy — When the tumor isn't well differentiated, intracavitary or external radiation (or both), given 6 weeks before surgery, may inhibit recurrence and lengthen survival time.
❑ Hormonal therapy — Synthetic progesterones, such as medroxyprogesterone or megestrol, may be administered for systemic disease. Tamoxifen (which produces a 20% to 40% response rate) may be given as a second-line treatment.
❑ Chemotherapy — Varying combinations of cisplatin, doxorubicin, carboplatin, topotecan, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine are usually tried when other treatments have failed.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Ovarian cancer:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
According to the staging of the disease and the patient's age, treatment of ovarian cancer requires varying combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and, in some cases, radiation.
Occasionally, in girls or young women with a unilateral encapsulated tumor who wish to maintain fertility, the following conservative approach may be appropriate:
❑resection of the involved ovary
❑biopsies of the omentum and the uninvolved ovary
❑peritoneal washings for cytologic examination of pelvic fluid
❑careful follow-up, including periodic chest X-rays to rule out lung metastasis.
Ovarian cancer usually requires more aggressive treatment, including total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with tumor resection, omentectomy, appendectomy, lymph node biopsies with lymphadenectomy, tissue biopsies, and peritoneal washings. Complete tumor resection is impossible if the tumor has matted around other organs or if it involves organs that can't be resected. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in a prepubertal girl necessitates hormone replacement therapy, beginning at puberty, to induce the development of secondary sex characteristics.
Chemotherapy extends survival time in most ovarian cancer patients, but it's largely palliative in advanced disease. However, prolonged remissions are being achieved in some patients.
Chemotherapeutic drugs useful in ovarian cancer include carboplatin, docetaxel, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, cisplatin, and topotecan. These drugs are usually given in combination and they may be administered intraperitoneally.
Radiation therapy generally isn't used for ovarian cancer because the resulting myelosuppression would limit the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
Radioisotopes have been used as adjuvant therapy, but they cause small-bowel obstructions and stenosis.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Malignant spinal neoplasms:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Treatment of spinal cord tumors generally includes decompression or radiation. Laminectomy is indicated for primary tumors that produce spinal cord or cauda equina compression; it isn't usually indicated for metastatic tumors. If the tumor is slowly progressive or if it's treated before the cord degenerates from compression, symptoms are likely to disappear, and complete restoration of function is possible. In a patient with metastatic carcinoma or lymphoma who suddenly experiences complete transverse myelitis with spinal shock, functional improvement is unlikely, even with treatment, and his outlook is ominous. If the patient has incomplete paraplegia of rapid onset, emergency surgical decompression may save cord function. Steroid therapy with dexamethasone minimizes cord edema and temporarily relieves symptoms until surgery can be performed. Partial removal of intramedullary gliomas, followed by radiation, may alleviate symptoms for a short time. Metastatic extradural tumors can be controlled with radiation, analgesics and, in the case of hormone-mediated tumors (breast and prostate), appropriate hormone therapy. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may control radicular pain from spinal cord tumors and is a useful alternative to opioid analgesics. In TENS, an electrical charge is applied to the skin to stimulate large-diameter nerve fibers and thereby inhibit transmission of pain impulses through small-diameter nerve fibers. Chemotherapy generally hasn't proven effective against most spinal tumors, but may be recommended in some cases.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Ovarian cysts:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
The type of cyst dictates the treatment method.
Follicular cysts
Follicular cysts generally don’t require treatment because they tend to disappear spontaneously within 60 days. Although hormonal treatment (such as birth control pills) is frequently prescribed, no evidence exists that it has any effect on treatment or prevention of functional ovarian cyst.
Granulosa-lutein and
theca-lutein cysts
If granulosa-lutein cysts occur during pregnancy, treatment is symptomatic because they diminish during the third trimester and rarely require surgery. Theca-lutein cysts disappear spontaneously after elimination of the hydatidiform mole, destruction of choriocarcinoma, or discontinuation of HCG or clomiphene citrate therapy.
Polycystic ovarian disease
Treatment of polycystic ovarian disease may include the administration of such drugs as clomiphene citrate to induce ovulation, medroxyprogesterone acetate for 10 days of every month for the patient who doesn’t want to become pregnant, or a low-dose hormonal contraceptive for the patient who needs reliable contraception.
Surgery, in the form of laparoscopy or exploratory laparotomy with possible ovarian cystectomy or oophorectomy, may become necessary if an ovarian cyst is found to be persistent or suspicious.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Uterine cancer:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Uterine cancer treatment varies, depending on the extent of the disease. Generally, treatment involves surgery and radiation therapy, depending on the stage and depth of the myometrial invasion.
Surgery
Surgery generally involves total adominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or, possibly, omentectomy with or without pelvic or para-aortic lymphadenectomy.
Radiation therapy
When the tumor isn’t well differentiated, intracavitary or external radiation (or both), given 6 weeks before surgery, may inhibit recurrence and lengthen survival time.
Hormonal therapy
Synthetic progesterones — such as hydroxyprogesterone or megestrol — may be administered for systemic disease. Tamoxifen, which produces a 20% to 40% response rate, may be given as a second-line treatment.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is not very successful in advanced endometrial carcinoma. Varying combinations of cisplatin, doxorubicin, carboplatin, or paclitaxel, as well as others, are usually tried when other treatments have failed.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Ovarian cancer:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Depending on the stage of the disease and the patient’s age, treatment of ovarian cancer requires varying combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and, in some cases, radiation. Cytoreductive surgery, in which the tumor nodules are reduced to as small a size as possible, may increase survival time.
Conservative treatment
Occasionally, in girls or young women with a unilateral encapsulated tumor who wish to maintain fertility, the following conservative approach may be appropriate:
❑ resection of the involved ovary
❑ biopsies of the omentum and the uninvolved ovary
❑ peritoneal washings for cytologic examination of pelvic fluid
❑ careful follow-up, including periodic chest X-rays to rule out lung metastasis.
Aggressive treatment
Ovarian cancer usually requires more aggressive treatment, including total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with tumor resection, omentectomy, appendectomy, lymph node biopsies with lymphadenectomy, tissue biopsies, and peritoneal washings.
Complete tumor resection is impossible if the tumor has matted around other organs or if it involves organs that can’t be resected. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in a prepubertal girl necessitates hormone replacement therapy, beginning at puberty, to induce the development of secondary sex characteristics.
Chemotherapy extends survival time in most ovarian cancer patients. Unfortunately, it’s largely palliative in advanced disease, but some patients are achieving prolonged remissions and even cures.
Chemotherapeutic drugs may be used alone; however, they’re usually given in combination. They may be administered intraperitoneally. The preferred first-line regimen is paclitaxel and cisplatin (or carboplatin).
Radiation therapy is generally not used for ovarian cancer because the resulting myelosuppression would limit the effectiveness of chemotherapy. It also has limited efficacy.
Other treatments
Radioisotopes have been used as adjuvant therapy, but they cause small-bowel obstructions and stenosis.
In addition, I.V. administration of biological response modifiers — interleukin-2, interferon, and monoclonal antibodies — may be attempted.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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