Ovarian Cancer Treatment Options

The treatment of ovarian cancer depends on the type and stage of the cancer. Early ovarian cancer can occasionally be cured by surgery alone. However, advanced ovarian cancer - which involves 70% of patients - is treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Surgery in these cases is quite challenging and, experience has shown, the best surgical outcomes are obtained by gynecologic oncologists who have specialized training and experience in these procedures.

Laparotomy. The vast majority of women with this disease will require the surgical removal of both ovaries, fallopian tubes and the uterus, as well as nearby lymph nodes and a fold of fatty abdominal tissue known as the omentum, where ovarian cancer often spreads.

Myomectomy. Those who are in the initial stages and wish to have children in the future will likely undergo this less radical procedure. The Lacks Cancer Center team most often performs one of three variations of a uterine-sparing surgery called myomectomy. Depending on individual diagnoses there are a few techniques employed including:

• Open Myomectomy. This open surgery requires a large abdominal incision so that the surgeon can easily navigate the internal structures and remove each tumor. After removing the affected areas, the surgeon must carefully repair the uterine wall to minimize potential uterine bleeding, infection and scarring. Proper repair is critical to reducing the risk of uterine rupture (tearing) during future pregnancies.
• Laparoscopic Myomectomy. Miniature cameras that offer real-time 2D images of internal structures are used throughout laparoscopic myomectomies. This 2D technology increases visibility, however because laparoscopic myomectomies may take longer than open myomectomies, up to 28% of laparoscopic myomectomies are converted to an open abdominal incision during surgery.
• da Vinci Myomectomy. While there are benefits to both open and laparoscopic myomectomies, for many patients, da Vinci myomectomy can provide the least invasive uterine-sparing treatment for tumors. It typically requires only three small incisions—and delivers 3D images of the internal organs. Because of these features, da Vinci offers timely, remarkably precise, comprehensive reconstruction of the uterine wall—regardless of the size or location of the tumors. This helps prevent possible uterine rupture (tearing) during future pregnancies.

Robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System. The da Vinci robot-assisted surgery may be the most effective, least invasive treatment option. Through tiny, 1-2 cm incisions, surgeons using the da Vinci System can operate with greater precision and control, minimizing the pain and risk associated with large incisions while increasing the likelihood of a fast recovery and excellent clinical outcomes. Read more about da Vinci here.

Progressive Approaches. Other treatments being explored include new chemotherapy drugs and biologic agents such as growth factor receptor blockers. In addition to these alternative therapies, The Lacks Cancer Center offers genetic testing for those with a family history of ovarian cancer.

Seek the most aggressive treatments available from our multidisciplinary team with a referral from your primary care physician or with a self-referral by calling 1-877-LACKS-MI or 616-685-LACK(S).