Ovarian Cancer Surgery

Ovarian Cancer Surgery - Overview

Ovarian Cancer Surgery is a procedure for removing the cancerous tumor from the ovaries and is the main line of treatment for most Ovarian cancers. The goal is to see how far your cancer has spread and to remove as much of the tumor as possible through surgery. The extent of surgery is determined by how far cancer has spread in the body and the patient’s general health. In most cases, ovarian cancer treatment involves surgery followed by chemo .

The type of procedure you’ll have depends on the stage of your cancer and your general health. Usually, in this procedure, the surgeon will remove your uterus, ovaries, and both fallopian tubes. She may also need to remove other tissue in your abdomen if cancer has spread in the nearby tissues. To perform the actual surgery your doctor will first diagnose the type, stage, and grade of the cancer and then determine the course of the surgery. If cancer is advanced, the doctor will first perform debulking (removing the tumor as much as possible), followed by chemo .

Ovarian cancer might also spread outside the ovaries which might affect other body parts as well. In such cases, your doctor might have to perform additional surgeries like:

Splenectomy
Appendectomy
Omentectomy (Removal of the fat layers that cover the intestines)
Cholecystectomy
Hysterectomy (Removing the Uterus)
Resection of bowel and/or other structures in the belly
Lymphadenectomy (elimination of affected lymph glands)

If you are looking for the best ovarian cancer treatment in India, connect with us for detailed information.

Ovarian Cancer Surgery - Symptoms

There are no specific-symptoms of ovarian cancer thereby making it is hard to detect it at an early stage. In most of the cases, by the time ovarian cancer is detected, it has already spread to the other parts of the body. However, patients should be aware of the following symptoms in their body and consult the doctor at the earliest at the very first signs of these:

Swelling or bloating in the stomach
Constant abdominal or pelvic pain
Regular fatigue feeling
Pain during sex
Sudden weight loss or weight gain in the abdominal area
Change in bladder habits like an increase in frequency or incontinence
Severe lower back pain
Loss of appetite, feeling full very quickly or constipation
Abnormal changes in the menstrual cycle

Women who are experiencing a combination of these symptoms regularly for some time are advised to visit their gynecologist for a cancer screening immediately.

Ovarian Cancer Surgery - Pre-Procedure

A week or two before your surgery, you will be recommended for some tests by your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough for the procedure. These tests are recommended to check the overall health and well-being of the patient. The following tests are recommended:

Blood tests- that may include complete hemogram, liver function test, renal function test, serum electrolytes, and coagulation profile.
Pap smear test and a pelvic examination
Urine tests

Based on the results of the tests mentioned above, your surgeon will schedule your surgery. A day before the surgery, you will also have to undergo the following tests:

ECG
Cancer screening
Blood and urine tests
Chest X-Ray

The toxic effects of the drugs are also considered before the surgical process if the patient has undergone pre-operative chemo .

Ovarian Cancer Surgery - During Procedure

The surgery is carried out under general anesthesia by the best doctors and surgeons for ovarian cancer treatment. Your doctor will recommend the right kind of surgery for you based on the stage of cancer

If the cancer is in the early stage, a minimally invasive procedure is performed but in the case of advanced cancer, open surgery technique is required.
In open surgery, a large incision of about 20 cm is made in the abdominal area to remove the ovaries and nearby tissues.
In minimally invasive surgery, many small incisions are made to insert the surgical instruments laparoscopically to remove the ovaries.
If the surgery is performed for an early stage cancer, the surgeon will take several tissue samples from abdominal areas, lymph nodes and pelvis to check how far cancer has spread. A fatty tissue layer (omentum) close to the ovaries is also removed to detect cancer cells.
Post the removal of the tissues, abdominal washing or peritoneal is done by adding sterile fluid in the stomach and then later removing it. This fluid is then checking the cancer cells.
Your surgeon will remove as much tumor as possible and if he finds cancer cells surrounding the ovaries in a process called debulking. If there are other body parts like lymph glands and nodes affected by the cancerous cells the surgeon might remove them as well.

Ovarian Cancer Surgery - Post-Procedure

Post ovarian cancer surgery the patient may experience some discomfort or pain once she wakes up. After the surgery, catheter is inserted from the open wound area to remove the excess fluids from the body. The patient can only be discharged post removal of catheter which usually takes around 3-6 days. It takes around 3-6 days to get discharge she can only be discharged after the catheter is removed.

If the patient is detected with advanced cancer, Chemo is required after the surgery. A combination of chemo and surgery can treat about 30% of women with advanced cancers.

If both the ovaries are removed during the surgery, the patient might experience sudden menopause symptoms for a few weeks. The doctor will recommend hormone replacement to deal with these symptoms. Once the patient is discharged from the hospital, doctors usually recommend the following steps to take care of:

Usually, it can take a patient up to 6 weeks to get back to their normal routine post the surgery.
No strenuous activity or sexual intercourse for 4-6 weeks
To prevent blood clotting in legs or chest infection, you would be recommended breathing and leg exercises
Consuming healthy food or supplements that would help to boost calcium and Vitamin D in the body
No driving for at least 1-2 weeks after the surgery

Ovarian Cancer Surgery - Risk & Complications

Your doctor will tell you about the risks and complications associated with the ovarian cancer surgery before the surgery. Following are some of the risks that patient might experience after their surgery:

Blood clots may be formed in the veins of legs or pelvis
Damage to surrounding organs like bladder, bowel or ureter
The patient may experience severe post-operative pain
Infection in the wound

The cost for ovarian cancer treatment in India highly depends upon the hospital and the surgery option you choose. Usually a complete open surgery can cost between Rs. 3.5 lakhs to 4.5 lakhs approx. If you’re planning to travel to India for your treatment, you might also need to consider the living and miscellaneous expenses to get a complete idea of the pricing. If your surgery needs to be followed up by chemo , the cost might increase. Contact our doctors to get your queries answered and find reliable information for ovarian cancer surgery in India.

Ovarian Cancer Surgery - Doctors

Dr. Renu Raina Sehgal

Senior Consultant, MBBS, DNB

Gynaecologist

16 years of experience
Dr. Anjila Aneja

Director , MBBS, MD, DNB, MRCOG, FRCOG

Obstetrics & Gynecology

27 Years of Experience
Dr. Sushma Prasad Sinha

Senior Consultant, MBBS, MD

Gynaecologist

30 Years of Experience
Dr. Rama Joshi

Director , MBBS, MD

Gynaecologist and Obstetrician

26 Years of Experience