Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Advanced Ovarian CancerPeople diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer have disease that has spread outside the abdomen or into the liver. Currently, the standard treatment for stage 4 ovarian cancer consists of both surgery and systemic treatment.

Ovarian cancer most often spreads to the lining of the abdomen (belly) and pelvis (this lining is called the peritoneum), the omentum (a layer of connective tissue that drapes the abdominal cavity like an apron), and organs in the pelvis and belly. It can cause a build-up of fluid and swelling in the abdomen. It can also spread to the outer lining of the lungs (pleural lining) and cause fluid to build up there. As it becomes more advanced, it may spread to the lung and liver, or, rarely, to the brain or skin. (It’s still called ovarian cancer, even though it’s moved somewhere else.)

The following is an overview for the treatment for metastatic ovarian cancer. The information on this web-site is intended to help educate you about your treatment options and to create discussion to help in the decision-making process with your treatment team.

Your cancer will ultimately influence the treatments that are right for your situation.  

Treatment may also include surgery, radiation, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatment techniques. Multidisciplinary treatment, which uses two or more treatment types, is important for every cancer patient and will help in creating a care plan and goals for improving a chance of cure or prolonging survival. In some cases, participation in a clinical trial may provide additional options.