Ovarian cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the ovary. The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive glands located on each side of a woman’s uterus (the organ where a baby grows and develops). Ovaries produce the female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Ovaries also produce eggs (called ova). Ovarian cancer develops when normal ovarian cells begin to grow uncontrollably and produce malignant tumors in one or both ovaries. Some tumors are benign (non-cancerous) and do not spread beyond the ovaries.

Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women. It is categorized by the type of cell where it originates. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer. It begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary and accounts for about 90 percent of all ovarian cancers. Germ cell ovarian cancer begins in the egg-producing cells within the ovary. Stromal ovarian cancer develops in the connective tissue that holds the ovary together and produces most of the female hormones. Germ cell and stromal ovarian cancers account for about 10 percent of ovarian cancers.

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, or have been battling ovarian cancer for some time, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) can help. CTCA offers a comprehensive, individualized approach to ovarian cancer treatment. Our doctors and practitioners work as a team to empower you with information, provide you with options, and deliver an integrative ovarian cancer treatment plan tailored to your needs.

The early stages of ovarian cancer may not cause any obvious symptoms. When symptoms are present, they are often vague or non-specific. However, as the cancer grows in size, some symptoms may persist, including the following:

• Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, gas
• Abdominal swelling or discomfort
• Pelvic pain or cramping
• Bloating or a feeling of fullness, even after a small meal
• Painful, frequent, or burning urination with no infection
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss or gain
• Unusual fatigue
• Low back pain
• Shortness of breath
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding or irregular periods
• Pain during intercourse

NOTE: It is important to remember these symptoms may be attributed to a number of conditions other than ovarian cancer. Only a medical professional can make this determination.

There are currently no reliable screening tests for ovarian cancer. Thus, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late and at an advanced stage. Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to make a diagnosis:

• Physical examination (e.g., pelvic exam)
• Blood tests/tumor markers (e.g., CA-125)
• Ultrasound (e.g., transvaginal)
• Other imaging tests (e.g., CT scans, MRI)
• Biopsy and surgery (e.g., laparotomy, laparoscopy)

An ovarian cancer diagnosis can make you feel shocked, scared and anxious. At CTCA, we are here to help you manage your feelings, make informed decisions about your care, and cope with the journey ahead. Our team of expert doctors and technologists use the latest ovarian cancer detection tools to help locate cancer cells in your body, determine the stage of the disease, measure drug resistance, and develop the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

Treatment for ovarian cancer depends on a number of factors, including the stage and size of the tumor(s), as well as your age, general health, and desire to have children. At CTCA, we provide a variety of innovative ovarian cancer treatment options and technologies that offer new hope for fighting the disease.

Surgery is the most common treatment for ovarian cancer. The purpose of surgery is to diagnose and stage the cancer, and then to remove the tumor(s). In debulking (or cytoreduction) surgery, the surgeon removes as much of the cancer as possible. Debulking may involve removing the ovaries, uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, omentum (a fold of fatty abdominal tissue), and nearby lymph nodes. Other types of surgeries, such as palliative surgery, is used to ease pain and other symptoms.

Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Many ovarian cancer patients receive chemotherapy after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. For the treatment of ovarian cancers, chemotherapy is typically given by mouth, intravenously (into a vein), or directly into the abdomen and pelvis through a thin tube (intraperitoneal chemotherapy). The length and dose of chemotherapy varies depending on the stage of the disease.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill or shrink ovarian cancer cells. It can come from a machine directed at the tumor from outside the body (external beam radiation), or from radioactive materials placed directly into or near the tumor. In most cases, the main goal of radiation therapy for ovarian cancer is to relieve symptoms such as pain. Another ovarian cancer treatment option is biotherapy/immunotherapy, which aims to boost the body's immune system to fight the disease.

In addition, some ovarian cancer patients may be candidates for a clinical trial. Currently, CTCA is conducting a U.S. FDA-reviewed and cleared, phase I/II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a unique ovarian cancer vaccine therapy for patients with recurrent and chemotherapy-resistant, late stage disease. CTCA patients undergoing treatment at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center for stage III or IV ovarian cancer who have tumor progression, despite at least one, but no more than two chemotherapy regimens, may be eligible to participate in the study based on specific criteria.

At CTCA, your care extends beyond conventional ovarian cancer treatments. Here, we understand you need extra support to cope with the side effects and other challenges that arise during treatment. Therefore, we also provide complementary medicine therapies, such as nutrition therapy, naturopathic medicine, mind-body medicine, spiritual support, and more. Our goal is to help you maintain your strength and improve your quality of life throughout your care.

When exploring your treatment options for ovarian cancer, it is important to find experienced and knowledgeable physicians who are familiar with your disease type and unique needs. Your care team should include a gynecological oncologist, a physician who specializes in treating cancer in a woman’s reproductive organs. In addition to finding experts in ovarian cancer, it is also important to find doctors who answer your questions and give you a voice in your care.

At CTCA, we purposefully select physicians who can demonstrate a combination of medical expertise and attentive, compassionate care. Here, you will have a multidisciplinary care team of doctors and practitioners assigned specifically to you. Depending on your needs, your care team may include gynecological, medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, as well as pain management specialists, nutritionists, counselors, and even pastoral care staff. And, since they reside together in one location, your care team is able to collaborate regularly as a team to explore the most appropriate ovarian cancer treatments for you.

Furthermore, CTCA doctors and practitioners abide by a Mother Standard® of care, meaning we support you and your needs as we would our own mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, or other loved ones. Here, your care team will take the time to listen to you, answer your questions, and join alongside you to help you fight ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer affects each person differently. Your ovarian cancer treatment should reflect your unique situation and needs. As a patient at CTCA, you will have your very own team of cancer experts who are committed to caring for you as an individual.

Here, we recognize that you are more than an “ovarian cancer patient.” You are a unique, whole person, with physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Your CTCA care team will work closely with you to formulate a customized ovarian cancer treatment plan that best suits these individual needs. Your plan will also be integrative, combining a variety of treatments to fight ovarian cancer on all fronts. Throughout your treatment, your care team will take the time to answer your questions and address your concerns.

We also believe in your right to be fully involved in every decision about your care. With our Patient Empowerment Medicine^SM (PEM) model, your care team will work with you at whatever level you are comfortable to empower you with clear information, guidance and support the way you need it. At CTCA, you will receive the kind of whole-person care and personalized attention you need to fight ovarian cancer.

We understand you might be feeling overwhelmed by what's ahead. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we are here to help you in every step of your healing journey. From the moment you arrive at a CTCA hospital, you will discover a treatment center that is welcoming and positive; one which brings the concept of hope and healing to life.

If you decide to become a patient at CTCA, we will handle all the details for you to make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible. Once you arrive at one of our hospitals, all of your ovarian cancer treatment will be handled under one roof, with reduced wait times for appointments and test results. When your treatment is complete, a registered nurse in our After Care Program will help you develop a plan for maintaining your health and taking the next steps in recovery.

To learn more about your ovarian cancer treatment options at CTCA, call us anytime at 1-800-615-3055. Our Oncology Information Specialists (OIS) are here for you 24/7, to listen and help in the decision-making process. You can also send them an email or chat online. Your journey of healing and hope begins with you.