The Stages of Ovarian Cancer

The first thing to be said about ovarian cancer is that it is not that common and about two-thirds of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer live on after their treatment. About 75% of younger women who are diagnosed early remain fertile after treatment and most of the women who die, do so because they have progressed to the later stages of ovarian cancer, because they have neglected having regular check ups.

The stages of ovarian cancer are judged according to the FIGO staging system ( the AJCC system is virtually identical) and relies on the results of one or more surgical operations. The final result or cure, depending on these results, could be the removal of one or both of the ovaries or/and one or both of the fallopian tubes and may even necessitate the removal of the womb as well - in other words, a complete hysterectomy, although this can normally be avoided in younger women and those who have been diagnosed early.

A brief description of the stages of ovarian cancer follows:

Stage One: involves one or both ovaries

1A: involves one ovary - ovary still intact - no tumor

1B: involves both ovaries - ovaries still intact - no tumor

1C: involves one or both ovaries - ovary (ies) ruptured - limited cancerous growth.

Stage Two: cancerous growth into the pelvic region

2A: cancerous growth into the uterous or fallopian tubes

2B: cancerous growth into the pelvis

2C: cancerous growth into the pelvis with positive peritoneal washings

Stage Three: tiny, microscopic cancerous growths outside the pelvic region or into the small bowel or omentum

3A: microscopic cancerous growths outside the pelvic region

3B: larger cancerous growths (less than 2 cm in size) outside the pelvic region.

3C: larger cancerous growths (more than 2 cm in size) outside the pelvic region.

Stage Four: cancerous growths have migrated to the liver or outside the peritoneal cavity.

Cancers, including ovarian cancer are graded as well. There are four grades of cancer, which relate to the likelihood of the cancer spreading to other areas of the body - the higher the number, the more higher the chance of the cancer spreading.

Grade 0: these are borderline or non-invasive tumors

Grade 1: this grade includes tumors that are made up of cells that are similar to the surrounding tissue

Grade 2: these tumors are known as 'moderately well differentiated', in other words, the cells of the tumor are significantly different from the cells in the tissue in the surrounding area.

Grade 3: these tumors contain 'poorly differentiated cells'. They are the worst kind, the cells are abnormal.

If you are reading this article because you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, then I am sure that you are already in the safe hands of a consultant, but if you are reading this web site out of interest, remember that this is only a basic outline of the stages of ovarian cancer.

Remember that not all of the stages of ovarian cancer are lethal if they are treated in time. The appropriate advice is to have regular check ups, because the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the easier it can be removed.