How is ovarian cancer treated?

Written in association with: Dr Rowan Miller
Published:
Edited by: Conor Lynch

In this article below, highly trusted, experienced, and qualified consultant medical oncologist, Dr Rowan Miller, tells us all we need to know with regards to ovarian cancer, including the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options.

What is ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer begins when abnormal cells form in the ovaries. The ovaries, each about the size of an almond, play a vital role in producing eggs and hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone. 

 

What are the main associated symptoms?

Ovarian cancer often remains silent in its early stages, making detection challenging. It is important that patients recognise changes early and seek medical attention if they notice any of the symptoms listed below.

 

Common symptoms include:

 

  • abdominal swelling or bloating
  • feeling full after eating small amounts.
  • unexplained weight loss
  • pelvic discomfort
  • fatigue
  • back pain
  • changes in bowel habits (such as constipation)
  • frequent urination

 

What are the causes and risk factors?

The exact cause of ovarian cancer remains unclear, but certain risk factors increase susceptibility including genetic mutations and family history

 

How is ovarian cancer detected?

A CA 125 blood test and physical examination will be performed. Imaging with ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI will then be performed to help visualise ovarian abnormality.  

 

How is ovarian cancer treated?

Surgery, chemotherapy, and target therapy with PARP inhibitors are the main treatment options for patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

 

If you would like to get checked for and to rule out the possibility of having ovarian cancer, schedule in an appointment with Dr Rowan Miller via her Top Doctors profile today.

By Dr Rowan Miller
Medical oncology

Dr Rowan Miller is a highly regarded consultant medical oncologist specialising in gynae-oncology and early phase clinical trials at University College London (UCL) and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals. Her expertise lies in the management of gynecological cancers and advancing cancer research through innovative trials, and she specialises in gynaecological cancer including ovarian/fallopian tube and endometrial cancers, and treatments including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, PARP inhibitors, and immunotherapy. 

Dr Miller successfully completed her undergraduate training at the University of Oxford, obtaining an MA in physiology in 2000. She would then go on to undertake clinical training at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in London before achieving an MBBS at the University of London in 2004. Notably, Dr Miller was awarded a Cancer Research UK Fellowship and obtained her PhD from the Institute of Cancer Research. She also impressively completed a fellowship at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University.

What makes Dr Miller stand out is that she focuses on novel therapies for gynaecological cancer, utilising genomics and biomarkers to guide therapy, particularly in early-phase clinical trials. Dr Miller is actively engaged in several clinical trials and leads the ESMO Translational Research and Precision Medicine Working Group, playing a key role in their consensus recommendation paper on HRD testing in ovarian cancer.

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