Gynecologic Cancer

Fallopian Tube Cancer

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Treatment for fallopian tube cancer usually involves surgery, followed by chemotherapy. Therapy will depend on your age, your desire to have children, as well as the type and stage of your tumor.

• Surgery -- Surgery is typically the first step of treatment for fallopian tube cancer. It usually involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries, a procedure called a total abdominal hysterectomy. During this procedure, specific areas outside of the fallopian tubes are sampled to see if any cancer has spread. If cancer has spread beyond the fallopian tubes, it is extremely important to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Chemotherapy -- In some cases, chemotherapy may be recommended as a follow-up treatment to surgery. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Drugs may be given by mouth or they may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called systemic treatment because the drug enters the blood stream, travels through the body and can kill cancer cells throughout the body.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated August 1, 2007