By Sandra Ray, Staff Writer
Chemotherapy is used in the event that doctors
were not able to determine if all cancer was removed
during surgery. The higher the staging of the
cancer, the more likely it is that chemotherapy will
be needed. Some tumors, for example, may not
be removed completely by surgery. Chemotherapy, in
conjunction with radiation therapy, can shrink the
tumors.
Most, but not all, chemotherapy treatments are
given intravenously, either through an IV that is
inserted at each treatment or through an IV port
that stays in the vein and is accessed each time a
treatment is needed. The port can be removed when
chemotherapy is completed. Some chemotherapy
treatments are given orally, while others may be
given directly into the abdominal cavity or into a
muscle (intramuscular). The type of chemotherapy
used depends on the type of ovarian cancer being
treated. In addition, the number of doses and the
frequency also depend on the stage; these factors
also take into consideration how quickly a patient
can recover from a dose of chemotherapy treatment.
Some patients can endure chemotherapy once every
three weeks, while others may need slightly longer
to recover. Normal cells need the chance to “bounce
back” while not allowing cancer cells the same
opportunity to recover. The doctor will discuss each
of these factors when prescribing a treatment plan
for chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy is generally only helpful in
treatment if the cancer is still confined to a
relatively small area, like the ovaries. Once the
cancer begins to spread to other organs, radiation
therapy loses its effectiveness since it cannot be
sufficiently targeted to help kill the cancer cells.
Role of Clinical Trials in Follow-up
Care:
Because of the relatively small window for
effective detection and treatment of ovarian cancer,
doctors regularly recommend that women enroll in a
clinical trial for follow-up care. Women can help
advance the science of treating ovarian cancer
at any stage of the disease. Even when the disease
advances into the third and fourth stages where
traditional treatment methods fail, it is still
possible to learn from women in these categories so
that further clinical advancements can be made.
Dr. Don Dizon, FACP, Assistance Professor, OB/GYN
& Medicine at Brown Medical School notes, “Many of
the advances in the treatment of ovarian cancer
would not be possible if not for the women who
participate in clinical trials. Whether they joined
the trials before cancer was detected and taught
physicians what to search for or after their cancer
was in the treatment stages, doctors could still
learn a great deal from them.”
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