What are the treatment options for ovarian cancer?

Surgery may remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes, uterus or visible tumour deposits. Ovarian cancer debulking surgery aims to remove as much visible disease as safely possible. Some people have surgery before chemotherapy; others receive chemotherapy first and surgery afterward, depending on the findings and their fitness for an operation.

Chemotherapy treats cancer cells throughout the body. Genomic tumour profiling and BRCA genetic testing can provide information that helps the team consider targeted or maintenance treatment. PARP inhibitor therapy may be appropriate for selected patients. Palliative care can be added at any stage to relieve symptoms and support quality of life; it does not mean cancer treatment must stop.

Ask which ovarian cancer type and stage you have, whether surgery is feasible, and what the treatment sequence is intended to achieve. Discuss fertility, menopause, bowel or bladder effects, recovery time and genetic implications before treatment when possible.

Keep a list of medicines and symptoms. Report fever, persistent vomiting, worsening abdominal swelling, inability to pass urine or stool, or severe breathlessness promptly. A genetics or oncology consultation can explain what test results may mean for you and relatives.

Seek urgent medical advice for severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, a tense or rapidly enlarging abdomen, fainting, chest pain, or new difficulty breathing. During chemotherapy, fever or feeling suddenly unwell needs prompt contact with the treatment team because infection can become serious quickly.

What type and stage of ovarian cancer do I have? Should surgery happen before or after chemotherapy? Do I need BRCA testing or tumour profiling? Could a PARP inhibitor be suitable? How will symptoms, fertility, menopause and quality of life be supported?