What should you know about FIGO staging ovarian cancer?

Early FIGO stages generally indicate disease confined to an ovary, fallopian tube or nearby pelvic structures. Later stages describe spread across the abdominal lining, to lymph nodes or beyond the abdomen. Substages add detail about the exact findings.

Doctors may use pelvic imaging, examination, blood tests, surgery and pathology to assign or refine a stage. Imaging can suggest where disease is located, but the final assessment may depend on tissue and operative findings. Stage does not describe every feature of a tumour, so grade and molecular results are considered separately.

Request a clear explanation of your stage, substage and tumour type. Ask which findings led to that assessment and whether it is provisional. Genomic tumour profiling or BRCA genetic testing may be relevant because tumour or inherited features can influence treatment discussions and family advice.

Depending on the findings, care may include oophorectomy, ovarian debulking surgery, chemotherapy or combinations of these. A staging label helps organise decisions; it does not by itself determine one person's exact treatment or outlook. Palliative care can support pain, appetite, fatigue, emotional needs and family communication alongside cancer-directed care.

Seek urgent assessment for sudden severe abdominal or pelvic pain, persistent vomiting, fainting, heavy bleeding, a rapidly enlarging abdomen, or inability to pass urine, stool or gas. If you are receiving treatment, follow your oncology team's instructions for fever, dehydration or a sudden decline.

Ask whether your FIGO stage is clinical or based on surgical pathology, which areas are involved, whether lymph nodes or abdominal fluid were assessed, what the stage means for the next decision, and when it will be reviewed.