Ovarian Cancer Stages - Top 4

We hear more and more that our friends or family have been diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is a terrible thing to happen to anybody. Ovarian cancer is one particular disease that seems to be on the rise so it is important for the female population to keep their yearly checkups on schedule. There are four stages that ovarian cancer goes through; let's review those ovarian cancer stages.

Stage 1 - The first stage is determining where the cancer is located and it can be in either one or both ovaries at this time. During this stage, the cancer is only located in the ovaries and has not moved elsewhere in the body. As this stage progresses, the cancer can be found in both ovaries and may at this time have moved to the outside and elsewhere in the body.

Stage 2 - This stage verifies if the cancer is found in one or both of the ovaries as well as that the cancer could now be on the outside of the ovaries as well as possibly other organs that are contained within the pelvic area. During this stage, the cancer spreads into the Fallopian tubes and/or the uterus. At the end of this stage, the cancer has spread to the uterus, colon, rectum, bladder, and into the lymph nodes. It is even possible at this point that the cancer can be found in the abdomen area.

Stage 3 - At this point, the cancer is found in one or both of the ovaries and has spread to other parts of the pelvic area. The cancer that can be found in the abdomen area are approximately 2cm or less but in the ovary(ies), the size could be larger than 2cm. Statistics show that most women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer during stage 3.

Stage 4 - This is the most extreme level the cancer reaches and is when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Surgery is usually performed to remove the cancer before further treatments are prescribed. Every attempt is made during surgery to remove the cancer which can be successful, but if the surgery is not then the patient must undergo chemotherapy treatments.

These stages were developed by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics or FIGO and are standard in assigning the ovarian cancer stages throughout the world.

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