Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Advanced Cancer Treatment at CMN Hospital

Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or nearby peritoneal tissue. Because symptoms can be subtle in the early stages, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed after it has already spread within the abdomen or pelvis.

At CMN Hospital, patients with ovarian cancer are evaluated individually based on diagnosis, pathology, imaging, tumor markers, previous treatments, current health status, and overall medical condition.

Types of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer includes several different disease types. Understanding the specific type is important because treatment planning depends on the patient’s pathology, stage, prior treatment history, and overall condition.

  • Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
  • High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
  • Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
  • Clear Cell Ovarian Cancer
  • Endometrioid Ovarian Cancer
  • Mucinous Ovarian Cancer
  • Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors
  • Ovarian Stromal Tumors
  • Primary Peritoneal Cancer
  • Fallopian Tube Cancer
  • Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Signs and Symptoms

Early ovarian cancer may cause few or no noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms may become more persistent.

  • Persistent abdominal bloating or swelling
  • Pelvic or abdominal pain
  • Feeling full quickly when eating
  • Loss of appetite
  • Frequent or urgent urination
  • Changes in bowel habits, including constipation
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Back pain
  • Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
  • Menstrual changes or postmenopausal bleeding in some cases

Because these symptoms may also occur with many non-cancerous conditions, persistent or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a physician.

How Ovarian Cancer Is Diagnosed

Diagnosing ovarian cancer typically involves a combination of clinical evaluation and diagnostic testing. Depending on the patient’s situation, evaluation may include pelvic examination, imaging studies, blood tests, biopsy, surgical findings, pathology review, and other testing recommended by the patient’s physician.

  • Comprehensive medical history and physical examination
  • Pelvic examination
  • Transvaginal ultrasound
  • CT scan, MRI, or PET imaging
  • Blood tests, including CA-125 and other tumor markers when appropriate
  • Biopsy or surgical pathology
  • Genetic testing, including BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations when indicated

Stages of Ovarian Cancer

Stage I

Cancer is confined to one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes.

Stage II

Cancer has spread to nearby pelvic organs, such as the uterus, bladder, sigmoid colon, or rectum.

Stage III

Cancer has spread outside the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen, nearby lymph nodes, or both.

Stage IV

Cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the lungs, liver tissue, or other areas outside the abdominal cavity.

Conventional Treatment Options

Treatment recommendations vary depending on the cancer subtype, stage, previous treatments, and the patient’s overall health.

  • Cytoreductive or debulking surgery
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • PARP inhibitor therapy
  • Hormone therapy for selected patients
  • Immunotherapy for certain indications
  • Radiation therapy in selected cases
  • Participation in clinical trials

Advanced and Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Many women who contact CMN Hospital have already undergone surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or other conventional cancer treatments before seeking additional options. Others may have persistent, recurrent, or metastatic ovarian cancer.

Because every patient’s medical history is unique, treatment recommendations cannot be based solely on a diagnosis. Dr. Edgar Payán carefully reviews each patient’s pathology reports, imaging studies, laboratory findings, treatment history, current condition, and overall health before discussing whether CMN Hospital’s 28-day inpatient Advanced Cancer Treatment program may be appropriate.

Individualized Physician Review

At CMN Hospital, every patient is evaluated individually. Dr. Edgar Payán, General Hospital Director and Medical Director of CMN Hospital, personally reviews each patient’s pathology reports, imaging studies, laboratory findings, tumor markers, previous treatments, current health status, and other relevant medical records.

Following this comprehensive review, Dr. Payán meets personally with each patient during a consultation to discuss the findings, answer questions, determine whether CMN Hospital’s 28-day inpatient Advanced Cancer Treatment program may be appropriate, and explain the treatment options available based on the patient’s individual medical evaluation.

If a patient proceeds with treatment, Dr. Payán oversees their care throughout their inpatient stay and continues to personally monitor their progress through scheduled monthly Zoom follow-up appointments after discharge.