Understanding ovarian cancer
Related
Order or download our free booklet about ovarian cancer. It covers symptoms, diagnosis, possible treatments, and practical issues.
Need to talk? Call us free* 0808 808 00 00 7 days a week, 8am-8pm
Find information, articles and activities relevant to you.
If you're struggling to find what you need, call our Support line on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm)
More ways to contact usTargeted therapies target the differences between cancer cells and normal cells.
Bevacizumab (Avastin®) is a targeted therapy drug that is licensed to treat advanced ovarian cancer. It works by stopping the cancer developing new blood vessels. This reduces the cancer’s supply of oxygen, which may cause it to stop growing or shrink.
Bevacizumab isn’t widely available in the UK. It has not been approved by the organisations that advise the NHS on which drugs should be funded. Some women may have it as part of cancer research trials.
When a drug hasn’t been approved for routine use within the NHS, it may still be possible to access it in certain situations. Your cancer specialist can advise you if this may be possible in your case. We also have more information about what you can do if a treatment isn’t available.
You usually have bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy and then on its own. Your nurse will give it to you into a vein as an infusion (drip).
The most common side effect is high blood pressure. Other less common side effects include bleeding problems, blood clots, and delayed wound-healing. Rarely bevacizumab can cause a hole in the small bowel (perforation of the bowel).
We have more detailed information about how targeted therapies work, and the drug bevacizumab.
Order or download our free booklet about ovarian cancer. It covers symptoms, diagnosis, possible treatments, and practical issues.
Waiting to hear the results of tests can be a worrying time. You can talk to us about anything that's concerning you.
If you're deciding which charity to support with your fundraising, talk to us. We want to be there for everyone affected by cancer, and we need your help.
What's happening near you? Find out about support groups, where to get information and how to get involved with Macmillan where you are.
Read Aoife's blog post about ovarian cancer. She discusses both the symptoms and the risk factors of the condition.
A support group for anyone affected by ovarian cancer to come together, share experiences, and ask questions.
Top
We rely on a number of sources to gather evidence for our information. If you’d like further information on the sources we use, please feel free to contact us on: bookletfeedback@macmillan.org.uk
All our information is reviewed by cancer or other relevant professionals to ensure that it’s accurate and reflects the best evidence available. We thank all those people who have provided expert review for the information on this page.
Our information is also reviewed by people affected by cancer to ensure it is as relevant and accessible as possible. Thank you to all those people who reviewed what you're reading and have helped our information to develop.
You could help us too when you join our Cancer Voices Network – find out more at: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancervoices
Need to talk? Call us free* 0808 808 00 00 7 days a week, 8am-8pm
© Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ. VAT no: 668265007
We make every effort to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and up-to-date but it should not be relied upon as a substitute for specialist professional advice tailored to your situation. So far as is permitted by law, Macmillan does not accept liability in relation to the use of any information contained in this publication or third party information or websites included or referred to in it.