Can ovarian cancer be cured?

Whether ovarian cancer can be cured needs to be comprehensively judged based on staging and classification. Early-stage ovarian cancer may be cured with standardized treatment, while the treatment goals for late-stage ovarian cancer are mainly to prolong survival and improve quality of life.

Early ovarian cancer mainly refers to the stage when the tumor is limited to the ovary or pelvic cavity. At this time, surgical resection combined with adjuvant chemotherapy can significantly improve the cure rate. Comprehensive staging surgery is the core of treatment, which requires removal of the uterus, bilateral adnexa, and omentum and other potentially involved tissues. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy based on platinum and paclitaxel is usually used to help eliminate residual microscopic disease. Some patients can achieve long-term survival under standardized treatment plans. If there is no sign of recurrence for 5 years during regular follow-up, the disease can be clinically considered to have reached the cure standard.

Advanced ovarian cancer has extensive pelvic and abdominal metastasis or distant spread, and it is difficult to completely remove the lesions at this time. Cytoreductive surgery remains the main treatment method, but the extent of surgery requires individualized assessment. Postoperative adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy is required, and some patients can try targeted drug maintenance therapy. Treatment at this stage is usually difficult to achieve a radical cure, and most patients will experience recurrence and metastasis, requiring multi-line treatment to control disease progression. About 70% of newly diagnosed patients can achieve clinical remission, but the probability of recurrence within 3 years is high.

After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you should promptly go to a gynecological oncology specialist to evaluate the condition through imaging and tumor markers. The surgical pathology results will ultimately determine the staging. Nutritional support must be maintained during treatment, low-intensity aerobic exercise must be performed appropriately, and adverse reactions such as bone marrow suppression and neurotoxicity must be monitored during chemotherapy. It is recommended that patients join a professional psychological support group, and family members need to participate in the entire care process.