Ovarian cancer is one of the most prevalent women’s cancers. Every year about 25,000 women in the U.S. receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. This specific cancer originates within the ovaries. Known as a gynecological cancer, ovarian cancer has the highest rate of death compared to all the cancers within this category, which is why gynecologists are so adamant about regular checkups.

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, there are a number of treatments available to you. However, it is common practice for your doctor to prescribe more than one type of treatment in combination to best eradicate all traces of the cancer. The following is a list of the most common types of treatment for ovarian cancer:

1. Surgery

Your doctor will often recommend surgery as a first line treatment to remove the cancer. This is The extent of the surgery will depend on how extensive the cancer has grown. These are the types of surgery that a doctor might suggest:

• Salpingo-oophorectomy: A process where the ovaries and Fallopian tubes are removed.
• Hysterectomy: Here the surgeon removes the uterus and all surrounding tissue.
• Lymph node dissection: A surgical removal of the lymph nodes near the aorta and in the pelvis.
• Cytoreductive or debulking surgery: If ovarian cancer has spread to other areas, the surgeon will try to reduce as much of the cancer as material as possible. This may include surgery to the gallbladder and other organs.

2. Chemotherapy

This ovarian cancer treatment involves the use of medications that destroy cancer cells. The medication is poisonous to the cells and prevent them from growing and spreading. It works on cancer cells that could not be removed or which might have spread to other parts of the body. This process often requires a series of chemotherapy sessions, spaced three to four weeks apart. Women who have had prior remissions, but suddenly see renewed cancer growth, may have chemotherapy treatment prescribed again. New chemotherapy treatment methods can often target specific cancer cells and limit the damage to normal cells. This can help reduce common side effects like:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Hair loss
• Loss of appetite
• Anemia
• Mouth sores

If side effects appear, they often disappear as soon as treatment finishes and as normal cells recover.

3. Hormone therapy

The purpose of hormone therapy is to prevent estrogen from reaching the cancer cells. By cutting off the supply of estrogen, cancer cells cannot generate as quickly. This type of therapy includes the use of goserelin, leuprolide, Tamoxifen, and aromatase.

4. Radiation therapy

Although a less common type of treatment, radiation therapy is often considered when there are still some cancer cells in the reproductive system, or when the cancer has advanced to other areas of the body.