The treatment for ovarian cancer depends on the type of ovarian cancer you have, the stage of the cancer, whether you wish to have children, whether you have a gene fault, your general health and fitness, and your doctors’ recommendations.
Learn more about:
- Overview
- Treatment options by types of ovarian cancer
- Making treatment decisions
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Radiation therapy
- Palliative treatment
Overview
Ovarian cancer is most often treated with surgery and chemotherapy, either on their own, or in combination. Whether you have surgery or chemotherapy first will depend on several factors. Targeted therapy drugs may be offered if there are certain gene changes in the tumour and/or if you have advanced cancer that could not be completely removed with surgery.
Treatment options by type of ovarian cancer
| epithelial – stage 1 |
|
| epithelial – stages 2, 3 and 4 |
|
| stromal cell |
|
| germ cell |
|
| borderline tumour |
|
→ READ MORE: Surgery for ovarian cancer
Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Dr Antonia Jones, Gynaecological Oncologist, The Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women, VIC; Dr George Au-Yeung, Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Centre, VIC; Dr David Chang, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Prof Anna DeFazio AM, Sydney West Chair of Translational Cancer Research, The University of Sydney, Director, Centre for Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and Director, Sydney Cancer Partners, NSW; Ian Dennis. Consumer (Carer); A/Prof Simon Hyde, Head of Gynaecological Oncology, Mercy Hospital for Women, VIC; Carmel McCarthy, Consumer; Quintina Reyes, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Gynaecological Oncology, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Deb Roffe, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
