Ovarian Cancer
Surgery
Surgery for ovarian cancer
Your doctor confirms that you have ovarian cancer and determines its extent (or stage) by taking biopsies during laparotomy surgery. Your long-term outcome (prognosis) is improved under the care of an experienced gynecologic oncologist whose expertise can help determine the best treatment choices at the time of surgery.4 Your surgery may include:
- A hysterectomy, which removes your uterus, and salpingo-oophorectomies, which remove your ovaries and fallopian tubes.
- Taking a sample of peritoneal fluid (peritoneal washings) from the abdominal cavity to look for cancer cells.
- Removing and checking the pelvic and aortic lymph nodes, to see if the cancer has spread.
- Checking the abdominal organs and tissues for cancer cells. Biopsies may be done.
- Removing and checking the fatty tissue (omentum) attached to some of the abdominal organs, to see if the cancer has spread.
- An appendectomy, which removes your appendix.
Surgery Choices
If you have very early-stage ovarian cancer and wish to have children (preserve fertility), discuss your choices with your doctor.
Most women who have advanced-stage cancer have a hysterectomy to remove the uterus and an oophorectomy to remove both ovaries. The fallopian tubes are usually removed also.
In advanced-stage surgery, your surgeon will take a sample of peritoneal fluid, remove lymph nodes and fatty tissue (omentum), and remove any abdominal tissue that is thought to have cancer.
What To Think About
Side effects from your surgery can include difficulty urinating or problems with bowel functioning, such as constipation or diarrhea. Your ability to have or enjoy sexual intercourse may also be affected.
If your ovaries are removed, you may have symptoms of menopause. Talk with your doctor about medicines to manage these symptoms.
Ovarian cancer may grow and spread to the point that it blocks the bowel. Or the first surgery to remove the cancer may cause problems, such as a blocked bowel. For more information, see the topic Bowel Obstruction.
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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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