Treatments for ovarian cancer
If you have ovarian cancer, your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. It will be based on your health and specific information about the cancer. When deciding which treatments to offer for ovarian cancer, your healthcare team will consider:
- stage
- grade
- type of tumour
- whether you want to get pregnant in the future
Treatments for epithelial ovarian cancer
The types of treatments given for epithelial ovarian cancer are based on the stage and the unique needs of the woman.
Treatments for borderline ovarian tumours
Surgery is the main treatment for borderline ovarian tumours.
Treatments for stromal ovarian cancer
Surgery is the main treatment for stromal ovarian cancer. Learn about surgery and other treatments such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy that may be offered with it.
Treatments for germ cell ovarian cancer
The main treatments for germ cell ovarian cancer are surgery and chemotherapy. Learn about surgery and chemotherapy for germ cell ovarian cancer.
Treatments for primary peritoneal carcinoma
Surgery is the first treatment for primary peritoneal carcinoma. Learn about surgery and other treatments that may be offered to treat primary peritoneal carcinoma.
Surgery for ovarian cancer
Surgery is the primary treatment for all types of ovarian cancer. The type of surgery depends mainly on the type of the tumour and stage of the cancer.
Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer
Chemotherapy may be given after surgery for some types of ovarian cancer.
Radiation therapy for ovarian cancer
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. Radiation is rarely used to treat ovarian cancer.
Hormone therapy for ovarian cancer
Hormone therapy is a systemic therapy that slows the growth and spread of ovarian cancer cells by changing hormone levels in the body. Drugs, surgery or radiation therapy can be used to change hormone levels.
Targeted therapy for ovarian cancer
Some women with ovarian cancer have targeted therapy. It uses drugs to target specific molecules (such as proteins) on cancer cells or inside them. These molecules help send signals that tell cells to grow or divide. By targeting these molecules, the drugs stop the growth and spread of cancer cells and limit harm to normal cells. Targeted therapy may also be called molecular targeted therapy.
Immunotherapy for ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is sometimes treated with immunotherapy. It helps strengthen the immune system to fight cancer.
Follow-up after treatment for ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer behaves differently in each woman, and a standard follow-up schedule would not work for everyone. Women with ovarian cancer should talk to their doctor about a follow-up plan that suits their individual situation. Follow-up care is often shared among the cancer specialists (oncologists, surgeon) and your family doctor.