In women with advanced cancer, removing as much tumor as possible is standard therapy. In severe cases, the uterus, both Fallopian tubes, both ovaries, and the omentum is removed taking most or all of the cancer with it. This is called a historectomy. Usually chemotherapy is started one to two weeks following surgery. The standard regimen is usually Cisplatin, or Carboplatin and Cytoxan.
Chemotherapy is given intervenously every three to four weeks as tolerated for at least six cycles.
Fourty to eighty percent of the patients given chemotherapy respond to it. There is some evidence that radiation therapy is as effective as chemotherapy for patients in the early stages of ovarian cancer, and who show no visible signs of cancer after their surgery. It is sometimes used for microscopic, recurrent ovarian cancer, or cancer that does not respond well to chemotherapy. It is usually given five days per week for four to five weeks. After diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer, follow-up visits are crucial.