How long can one live with ovarian cancer?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on January 09, 2025
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The lifespan of ovarian cancer patients depends on several factors including the specific stage of the cancer, the patient's sensitivity and response to treatment, and the overall health of the patient, leading to significant individual variability. The cancer is typically classified into stages from one to four, with stage one being the earliest and stage four being the most advanced. Generally, patients diagnosed at an earlier stage tend to have a better prognosis and a greater chance of survival compared to those with advanced ovarian cancer. Additionally, patients in advanced stages who respond well to treatments like chemotherapy typically have a better prognosis and longer survival times compared to those who are less responsive to such treatments. Hence, it is impossible to generalize as the individual differences are substantial.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can ovarian cancer that has spread still be cured?

If ovarian cancer has spread, it is generally considered to be at an advanced stage. The treatment for advanced ovarian cancer primarily involves chemotherapy. Epithelial cancer, the most common type of ovarian cancer, is particularly sensitive to chemotherapy. Most patients benefit from chemotherapy. However, once ovarian cancer has spread and is not caught at a very early stage, even with treatments like chemotherapy, it cannot be cured. The purpose of treatment at this stage is to alleviate the patient's pain and extend their survival, but it cannot be cured.

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Written by Wu Xia
Oncology
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What to eat for difficulty in defecation due to ovarian cancer?

If the difficulty in defecation is due to ovarian cancer involving the rectum or other parts, we can apply anti-tumor treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy to control the condition and facilitate defecation. If the issue is caused by painkillers or the patient's inherent constipation, diet is crucial. The diet must include an adequate amount of fiber, more vegetables, and fruits. Avoid overly refined staple foods and include more whole grains. Drinking a glass of saltwater or honey water on an empty stomach in the morning, combined with appropriate waist and abdominal massage, can enhance the effect of facilitating bowel movements. If these measures are still ineffective, laxatives such as sodium docupate or lactulose may be used, along with some traditional Chinese medicines.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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How to control ascites from ovarian cancer?

In clinical settings, it is common for ovarian cancer to present with significant ascites. Some patients initially seek medical attention due to symptoms related to large volumes of ascites, and then ovarian cancer is diagnosed. Such cases are generally at a more advanced stage, and their treatment is predominantly chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer patients tend to be relatively sensitive to chemotherapy; only when chemotherapy controls the cancer cells can the ascites be managed. Of course, symptomatically, a peritoneal drainage tube can be placed to drain the ascites, and then local intraperitoneal chemotherapy drugs can be infused. This, combined with systemic intravenous chemotherapy, controls the ovarian cancer and manages the ascites.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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How long can one live after ovarian cancer recurrence?

If ovarian cancer patients experience a recurrence after surgery and it is a simple local pelvic recurrence without distant organ metastasis, the treatment method involves evaluating whether another surgical resection can be performed by a gynecologist. However, if there is a recurrence combined with extensive pelvic metastasis, or metastasis to multiple organs, the treatment mainly involves chemotherapy. Therefore, how long a patient can live after ovarian cancer recurrence depends on the severity of the recurrence, the patient's physical condition, and the sensitivity to treatment, among other factors. Thus, it cannot be generalized as there is significant individual variation.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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Will ovarian cancer increase AFP levels?

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the female reproductive organs, with an incidence rate second only to cervical cancer and endometrial cancer. Epithelial carcinoma is the most common type of malignant ovarian tumor, followed by malignant germ cell tumors, among which ovarian epithelial carcinoma has the highest mortality rate among all gynecological tumors. In cases of ovarian cancer, an increase in AFP is common, particularly in malignant germ cell tumors. The most common of these is the yolk sac tumor, which has a specific value, as its AFP levels are often significantly elevated.