Cancer is a serious health disorder that does not discriminate. Women, men, and even children can have one of the various forms of cancer. Ovarian cancer in women is one of the most common cancers that can occur at any age. It can affect the entire reproductive system which can cause the inability to conceive and give birth in younger women.

Some of the risk factors for ovarian cancer include family history, having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, a syndrome linked with the high risk of ovarian cancer, or having had a previous breast, endometrial, or colorectal cancer diagnosis. There are various surgical options for treatments of ovarian cancer:

1. Salpingo-oophorectomy
This surgical procedure can be either of two options that depend on the areas affected. The Unilateral salpingo is the removal of only one ovary and one fallopian tube. The Bilateral salpingo is the surgical removal of both of the ovaries, and both of the fallopian tubes.

2. Total hysterectomy
The total hysterectomy is a procedure that involves the removal of the uterus which also includes the cervix. This is done when the cancer is very severe, and the reproductive organs are not capable of functioning any more due to the cancer. Surgical procedures for ovarian cancer can be performed by a laparotomy which is an incision that opens the abdomen, or by means of a laparoscopy which is a small incision in the abdomen.

3. Surgical debulking
The main goal of any ovarian cancer surgery is the removal of as much of the cancerous tumor as possible. This process is called debulking. It is vital to do especially when the cancer has spread through all areas of the abdomen at the time of the surgery. Debulking surgery is aimed to leave no visible cancer, and no tumor larger than one centimeter. This is when the surgery is optimally debulked. These patients will usually have a better prognosis after their surgery.

4. Cystectomy
This procedure generally refers to when a tumor or ovarian cyst is removed from the ovary or ovaries. This is to preserve the ovary for women who still want to maintain their fertility. Considerations for this type of surgery include the size of the tumor or cyst, the age of the patient, and the possibility that there may be a malignancy. This procedure involves one or two small incisions, and one larger incision into the abdomen.

Your Gynecologist will make recommendations for your ovarian cancer surgery once it has been determined that you are in need of it. The oncology team will discuss all available options to you when the time comes for the ovarian cancer surgery. Sometimes the fertility can be preserved, and there may be the case when all reproductive organs must be removed. There have been many successful surgeries for ovarian cancer, and many lives have been saved. If you are cancer free, learn all that you can about the preventative measures that can be taken to help lessen the risk of ovarian cancer.