Stage 1 ovarian cancer treatment

Stage 1 means confirmed ovarian cancer appears confined to the ovary or ovaries on the staging assessment, but the exact plan depends on tumour type, grade, whether the capsule is intact, surface involvement, washings, and tissue sampling. Surgery may both remove visible disease and provide information needed to confirm the stage.

Your age, general health, fertility wishes, inherited-risk information, and preferences also matter. A pelvic ultrasound can help assess an ovary, but it does not replace surgical and pathology findings when cancer is suspected.

Surgery may include Oophorectomy and other staging procedures; in selected situations, fertility-sparing surgery can be discussed. Ovarian Cancer Debulking Surgery is used when the surgical goal is to remove visible disease, although the procedure recommended depends on the findings and stage.

Some people need no drug treatment after complete staging, while others are offered Chemotherapy because tumour features indicate a higher chance of cancer returning. Genomic Tumour Profiling and BRCA Genetic Testing may guide treatment decisions or identify information relevant to relatives. Ask how each recommendation affects recovery, fertility, menopause, and follow-up.

After treatment, contact the team promptly for fever, worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, inability to pass urine or stool, wound redness or drainage, heavy bleeding, or breathlessness. Seek emergency help for collapse, severe breathing difficulty, or sudden intense pain.

Before a procedure, report new illness, blood-thinning medicines, allergies, and pregnancy possibility. If treatment causes distress, Palliative Care can support symptoms and wellbeing alongside cancer-directed care at any stage.

Ask: What tumour type and grade do I have? What did staging surgery show? Is fertility-sparing surgery suitable? Why is chemotherapy recommended or not recommended? Should genetic counselling or tumour profiling be arranged? What follow-up symptoms and scans should I expect?