There are two basic treatments that are used in the initial treatment for ovarian cancer: surgery and chemotherapy. Both of these treatments are often used in conjunction, leading patients to question which treatment they should undertake first.
Many women will undergo surgery first, and then begin chemotherapy shortly thereafter. However, the plan of action largely comes down to the extensiveness of the disease, and whether or not doctors see viability in conducting surgery upfront. Sometimes, if cancer has spread to areas where it may be difficult for doctors to reach surgically — your medical team may attempt to shrink the tumors with chemotherapy before operating.
Beginning with chemotherapy can shrink the cancer down to a manageable level, allowing doctors to have a more manageable mass to address through surgery, when they can go in and remove as much of the cancerous cells as possible. Afterwards, some patients will go through more rounds of chemotherapy. This chemotherapy-first approach is often the most effective route, but can also lead to complications.
Recent studies suggest that ovarian cancer patients who are treated with chemotherapy first and surgery second were at a significantly higher risk of blood clots, possibly due to decreased mobility. Because of all of these factors, beginning with chemotherapy is not the ideal treatment path, and there is compelling data that shows that, if possible, surgery should precede chemotherapy.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Cassandra Niemi is a gynecologic oncologist at Compass Oncology. Read More
There are two basic treatments that are used in the initial treatment for ovarian cancer: surgery and chemotherapy. Both of these treatments are often used in conjunction, leading patients to question which treatment they should undertake first.
Many women will undergo surgery first, and then begin chemotherapy shortly thereafter. However, the plan of action largely comes down to the extensiveness of the disease, and whether or not doctors see viability in conducting surgery upfront. Sometimes, if cancer has spread to areas where it may be difficult for doctors to reach surgically — your medical team may attempt to shrink the tumors with chemotherapy before operating.
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Beginning with chemotherapy can shrink the cancer down to a manageable level, allowing doctors to have a more manageable mass to address through surgery, when they can go in and remove as much of the cancerous cells as possible. Afterwards, some patients will go through more rounds of chemotherapy. This chemotherapy-first approach is often the most effective route, but can also lead to complications.
Recent studies suggest that ovarian cancer patients who are treated with chemotherapy first and surgery second were at a significantly higher risk of blood clots, possibly due to decreased mobility. Because of all of these factors, beginning with chemotherapy is not the ideal treatment path, and there is compelling data that shows that, if possible, surgery should precede chemotherapy.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Cassandra Niemi is a gynecologic oncologist at Compass Oncology. Read More
