Gynecologic Cancer

Ovarian Cancer

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Health care professionals specializing in pelvic cancers at UCSF Medical Center will discuss all available therapies with you and make recommendations based on the stage of your disease, age and the overall condition of your health.

• Surgery — Surgery to remove the cancerous growth is the primary method for diagnosing and treating ovarian cancer.

• Radiation Therapy — This treatment uses high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing. It is a localized treatment, which means that it works to attack cancer cells in one area. The radiation may come from a large machine, which is called external radiation, or from radioactive materials placed directly into the ovaries, called implant radiation. Some patients receive both types of radiation therapy.

• Chemotherapy — Drugs to kill cancer cells are most often used when ovarian cancer has spread to other parts of the body. A patient may receive just one drug or a combination of drugs in cycles. Chemotherapy may be given by injection into a vein or orally. It is a systematic treatment, meaning that the drugs flow through the body in the bloodstream.

For more information, see our Patient Education.

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