Ovarian Cancer Treatment

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In 2011, 79.9% of stage III or IV ovarian cancer patients received chemotherapy.

Summary graph for Ovarian Cancer Treatment, Click to see detailed view of graph

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Background

Ovarian cancer forms in the tissues of the ovary (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed). Most ovarian cancers are either ovarian epithelial carcinomas (cancer that begins in the cells on the surface of the ovary) or malignant germ cell tumors (cancer that begins in egg cells). Cancerous ovarian tumors can also begin in stromal cells, which release hormones and connect the different structures of the ovaries, though this is less common. Ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers form in the same tissue and are treated the same way.

Ovarian cancer treatment varies by the type of tumor. Often, two or more different treatments are used, though surgery is the main initial treatment for most ovarian cancers. Studies in early stage ovarian cancer have shown an increase in overall survival with the administration of chemotherapy, which is used in the majority of cases as a follow-up therapy to surgery. Epithelial ovarian cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Ovarian germ cell tumors are treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Ovarian stromal tumors are treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.

Guidelines suggest intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy for later stage ovarian cancer. IP chemotherapy involves injecting a concentrated dose of drugs through a thin tube into the abdominal cavity where the cancer cells are located. In a study of women with advanced ovarian cancer, those receiving IP chemotherapy lived longer than those getting regular chemotherapy, but the side effects of IP chemotherapy were often more severe.

Measure

Percentage of individuals diagnosed with ovarian cancer who received chemotherapy or hormonal therapy by stage of diagnosis.

Healthy People 2030 Target

  • There are no Healthy People 2030 targets for cancer treatment, including ovarian cancer treatment.

Healthy People 2030 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Data Source

SEER Patterns of Care/Quality of Care Studies, National Cancer Institute,1991-2011.

Trends and Most Recent EstimatesHelp with navigating the graphs and data tables

Stage I and II Diagnoses

Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with stage I or II ovarian cancer by type of treatment received, 1991-2011
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2011)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with stage I or II ovarian cancer by type of treatment received, 1991-2011 click for more details and datapoints ChemotherapyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Chemotherapy 63.5 (59.5 - 67.4)
Hormone therapyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hormone therapy 0.7 (0.1 - 1.2)

Stage III and IV Diagnoses

Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with stage III or IV ovarian cancer by type of treatment received, 1991-2011
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2011)
Percent of patients 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percent of patients aged 20 years and older diagnosed with stage III or IV ovarian cancer  by type of treatment received, 1991-2011 click for more details and datapoints ChemotherapyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Chemotherapy 79.9 (77.2 - 82.5)
Hormone therapyClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hormone therapy 0.6 (0.2 - 1.0)

Distribution of Chemotherapeutic Agents

Distribution of chemotherapeutic agents given to ovarian cancer patients aged 20 years and older by type of treatment received, 2011
Overview graph Chemotherapy agent received Stage I and II Stage III and IV
Percent of patients receiving agent 95% Confidence Interval Percent of patients receiving agent 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Distribution of chemotherapeutic agents given to ovarian cancer patients aged 20 years and older by type of treatment received, 2011 click for more details and datapoints Carboplatin/Cisplatin 61.1 (56.9 - 65.1) 77.5 (74.5 - 80.2)
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) 0.1 (0.0 - 0.4) 0.6 (0.3 - 1.0)
Paclitaxol (Taxol) 53.3 (49.1 - 57.5) 72.6 (69.5 - 75.4)
Other Chemo Agents 15.7 (12.9 - 19.1) 30.7 (27.7 - 34.0)

Year Range

1991-2011

Recent Summary Trend Year Range

2002-2011

Summary Tables

Kidney, Lung, Ovarian, Prostate

Recent Summary Trend

Rising

Desired Direction

Rising