Ovarian Cancer

Medications

Chemotherapy is used to shrink ovarian cancer and slow cancer growth. Chemotherapy is recommended for most women after the initial surgery for ovarian cancer.

Medication Choices

Different chemotherapy drugs are given in different ways. Some are taken by mouth (oral), some are injected into a vein (intravenous, or IV), and others are injected through a thin tube into the belly (intraperitoneal, or IP). Oral and IV chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the medicines enter the bloodstream, travel through the body, and kill cancer cells both inside and outside the ovaries. In intraperitoneal chemotherapy, the drug is put into the body in the same area as the cancer. It is not a systemic treatment, but a little of the medicine still gets into the bloodstream.

Extensive research and clinical trials have studied the different chemotherapy medicines used to treat ovarian cancer. There are several drugs to treat ovarian cancer. Some are used alone, and some are combined with other drugs. Your doctor will recommend chemotherapy treatment that is specifically tailored to you.

Chemotherapy is recommended after surgery for most women with ovarian cancer. The number of cycles of treatment will depend on the stage of your disease. The side effects will depend on the medicines that are used and how the medicines are given. Some of the chemotherapy medicines used for ovarian cancer include:

Carboplatin.

Cisplatin.

Paclitaxel.

Docetaxel.

Other medicines that may be used if ovarian cancer recurs include:

Cyclophosphamide.

Doxorubicin.

Gemcitabine.

Topotecan.

Oxaliplatin.

Treatment of ovarian cancer with chemotherapy can cause nausea and vomiting. Your doctor will prescribe medicines you can take with your treatments and when you get home, to help relieve any nausea that you may have.

What To Think About

Most chemotherapy causes some side effects. Home treatment may help manage your symptoms. If your doctor has given you instructions or medicines to treat your symptoms, be sure to follow them. In general, healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep and exercise can help control your symptoms.

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Author:	Bets Davis, MFA	Last Updated: June 15, 2009
Medical Review:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Ross Berkowitz, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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