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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more| .
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Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs work by disrupting the growth of cancer cells. Ovarian cancer is usually very sensitive to chemotherapy, and in most women the tumours will become smaller or disappear.
Women with borderline tumours, or those with low-grade or stage 1a ovarian cancer may not need chemotherapy after their surgery.
Chemotherapy is often recommended after surgery for women with moderate or high-grade ovarian cancer or those with stage 1b or 1c cancer. Giving chemotherapy after surgery is known as adjuvant chemotherapy . The aim is to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back by getting rid of any tiny groups of cancer cells that may be left behind after an operation. Generally six sessions of chemotherapy are given, over 5–6 months.
Chemotherapy is usually given after surgery to try to kill any cancer cells that may have been left behind.
If the surgeon feels that the cancer may be difficult to remove, a few courses of chemotherapy may be given before surgery to make the tumour smaller and easier to remove.
Chemotherapy is sometimes given before surgery (neo-adjuvant chemotherapy), or if you are too unwell for a major operation. It is also often used after surgery to try to shrink any remaining tumours.
If the cancer has spread to the liver, or beyond the abdomen, it may not be possible to remove it and so chemotherapy is the main treatment used. Chemotherapy is also used if the cancer comes back after surgery.
Intravenous chemotherapy (chemotherapy drugs given directly into a vein) is given as a
session of treatment, usually over several hours. This is followed by a rest period of a few weeks, which allows your body to recover from any side effects of the treatment. Together, the treatment and the rest period is known as a cycle of chemotherapy. Most women have six cycles of chemotherapy. Women who are given neo-adjuvant chemotherapy generally have three cycles of chemotherapy before the operation, followed by three cycles after.
Chemotherapy is usually given to you as an outpatient, but sometimes it will be given as an inpatient, which will mean spending a few days in hospital.
Chemotherapy can also be given directly into the abdomen through a small tube. This is known as intraperitoneal chemotherapy . Research has shown that intraperitoneal chemotherapy, given alongside intravenous chemotherapy, can help to improve survival for a small number of women. However, it can also cause unpleasant side effects, such as pain, infection and digestive problems. As a result this way of giving chemotherapy isn’t commonly used in the UK.
Your doctor can discuss whether intraperitoneal chemotherapy is an appropriate treatment for you.
Our section on chemotherapy discusses the treatment and its side effects in more detail. Information about individual drugs and their particular side effects is also available.
After surgery, the most commonly used drug to treat ovarian cancer is carboplatin, which may be given with paclitaxel (Taxol®)| .
Chemotherapy affects people in different ways. Some people find they are able to lead a fairly normal life during their treatment, but many find they become very tired and have to take things much more slowly. Just do as much as you feel like and try not to overdo it. Although they may be difficult to cope with, most of these side effects will disappear once your treatment is over.
You'll find more detailed information on chemotherapy side effects| in our 'Chemotherapy' section. We also have information to help you manage the side effects| of cancer treatment in our 'Living with and after cancer' section.
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