Ovarian, Fallopian Tube and Peritoneal Cancer
How Stanford Can Help You
At the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center, we have one key goal: providing you with a cure. Our Gynecologic Cancer Program pairs compassionate, nationally recognized doctors with top-ranked researchers who offer you the most advanced treatment options available. Our scientists are pioneers in discovering the basic biology of ovarian cancer, which allows us to work closely with you to develop treatments tailored to your disease and unique needs.
Care and treatment of ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer is provided by the Stanford Gynecologic Cancer Program in the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center.
WHAT WE OFFER YOU FOR OVARIAN, FALLOPIAN TUBE, AND PERITONEAL CANCER
- Nationally recognized expertise to treat every stage and subtype of ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer.
- Precise diagnosis options that use advanced biopsy and imaging technologies to evaluate the unique biology of your ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer.
- Team-based treatment planning, including weekly meetings that bring together specialists from diverse disciplines to tailor care to your needs
- Advanced treatment options, including minimally invasive approaches, such as laparoscopic surgery (a technique that uses small incisions) and robot-assisted surgery.
- Tumor genomic profiling services to target the genetic fingerprint of hard-to-treat ovarian fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer with therapies only available through clinical trials.
- Genetic counseling services to assess your genetic risk for ovarian cancer and develop a care plan for you and your family.
- Comprehensive support services, including dedicated care coordination, counseling, nutrition services, pain management, massage therapy, and women’s sexual medicine services.
INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?
The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!
Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
Treatment for Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Peritoneal Cancer
Every woman deserves care that is both highly effective and compassionate. Stanford Women’s Cancer Center offers you the latest technologies and advanced therapies for ovarian fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer.
We strive to help you fully understand your diagnosis and what to expect from your treatment. At weekly Tumor Board meetings, experts from multiple disciplines review cases that require more complex recommendations. Your care team will present you with an overview of all treatment options in a way that is comprehensive, but easy to understand.
As a National Cancer Institute-Designed Cancer Center, the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Institute is recognized for its outstanding scientific leadership.
Newly Diagnosed
Recurrent or Advanced
Genetic Counseling
Treatment & Wellness Care
Our extensive system of clinical and support services goes beyond targeting the cancer itself to taking care of each women’s needs as a whole person. We will work closely with you to determine what care pathway is suited to your particular diagnosis, individual biology and personal preferences. Learn more about our support services »
To customize your treatment plan, we use a detailed genomic test that can identify the unique genetic fingerprint of your cancer to gain critical insight into how we might best fight it.
Whether using traditional methods, such as surgery, or innovative therapies that are unique to Stanford, such as new treatments that use your immune system to fight the cancer, you can be assured that you will get the latest and most effective care.
Surgical Therapy
Our doctors use some of the most advanced and minimally invasive techniques to surgically remove tumors and minimize the chance of leaving microscopic amounts of tumor behind. Surgical therapies include:
- Hysterectomy
- Sentinel node mapping
- Salpingo-oophorectomy—a surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can be vital if you are newly diagnosed, as minimizing the amount of disease left behind after surgery can significantly reduce the risk of reoccurrence. Radiation therapies include:
- Intensity modulated radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy/localized therapy
Medical Therapy
Doctors and researchers at Stanford Health Care have been at the forefront of developing and improving medical therapies, which can include:
- Chemotherapy
- Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Immunotherapy (biologic therapy)
- Investigational treatments, including PARP inhibitors, immunotherapies, such as dendritic cell therapy, and ovarian cancer vaccines
Treatment & Wellness Care
For people with recurrent cancer or cancer that has spread to other areas (known as metastatic cancer), we apply the full force of Stanford’s advanced diagnostics, scientific understanding, and investigative drive to learn about the specific biology of your cancer.
Our use of the newest techniques and clinical trials for screening and diagnosing ovarian or peritoneal cancer means greater opportunities to catch a recurrent or metastatic disease before it advances significantly.
A team of specialists, including gynecologic oncologists, geneticists and others, will discuss the nuances of your case, taking into account age, gender, family history, and side effects. Treatment options may include taking part in a clinical trial using new, highly targeted drugs.
Surgical Therapy
Surgery may stop the further spread of disease, and our team of doctors will work closely with you to determine whether or not it should be considered.
- Hysterectomy
- Sentinel node mapping
- Salpingo-oophorectomy - Surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy may be useful for cancer that has spread beyond the ovaries and fallopian tubes. For advanced disease, radiation also can help reduce painful symptoms. Radiation therapy options include:
- Intensity modulated radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy/localized therapy
Medical Therapy
Many women with reoccurring cancer or cancer that has spread can benefit from medical therapies, particularly chemotherapy drugs. Clinical trials for investigational therapies also offer new hope.
- Chemotherapy
- Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Immunotherapy (biologic therapy)
- Investigational treatments, including PARP inhibitors, immunotherapies, such as dendritic cell therapy, and ovarian cancer vaccines
Clinical & Wellness Support
Our psychologists and psychiatrists are highly experienced and will understand your unique needs. Supportive and palliative care can help you better manage symptoms and maintain the lifestyle you desire. Learn more about our comprehensive support »
Most ovarian cancer is not tied to hereditary risk. Still, we would like to hear from you if you or at least one member of your family has the disease. Because inherited mutations cause approximately 25% of ovarian cancer, we do not want to miss anyone we can potentially help. Learn more about our Cancer Genetics Program »
Risk Assessment
Assessing your risk involves looking at your personal and family medical histories. We may also recommend genetic testing, using the most-up-to-date techniques to look at many genes at once.
Throughout the process, our genetic counselors discuss the implications for your health, life, and family. We can help you share information with relatives. Learn about cancer risk assessment with genetic testing and counseling »
Risk Management
While we continue to work on improved ovarian cancer screening, current approaches often do not detect the disease until symptoms appear. At that point, it is usually too late for curative treatment. The lack of options influences national guidelines, which our doctors help write:
- Surgery: Many people with high inherited risk will not develop ovarian cancer. But because screening is not yet viable, we recommend removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes. The age to do so depends on the particular mutation found and ranges from the late 30s to late 40s. We offer hormone replacement to counter the early-onset menopause, as well as nonhormonal options for women with cancer or those who have already gone through menopause. A sexual medicine specialist can provide further help. For Lynch syndrome, we also recommend uterus removal.
- Oral contraceptives: Taking birth control medications can help prevent ovarian cancer in the short term. We still recommend eventual removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes. We may suggest contraception if you are still years from the usual age for surgery.
- Cancer treatment: If you have ovarian cancer and a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, we may recommend an approved, targeted therapy called a PARP inhibitor.
Genetic Mutations and Ovarian Cancer
Genes pass down the DNA you need. But some missing, duplicated, or miscoded genes increase ovarian cancer risk. While researchers have not identified them all, those we know include:
- BRCA1 and BRCA2: Mutations in these genes cause most hereditary ovarian cancers, with ties to breast cancer and other cancers. Approximately 40% of women with a BRCA1 mutation develop ovarian cancer, and approximately 10% to 20% with a BRCA2 mutation do. In women without a mutation, fewer than 2% do. See our BRCA decision tool, created by Stanford doctors and scientists and used by women worldwide to weigh their options.
- Genes related to Lynch syndrome: Mutations in MLH1, MSH2, EPCAM, MSH6, and PMS2 genes can raise ovarian cancer risk. These mutations can also cause skin, brain, colorectal, and other gastrointestinal cancers. Together, such familiar cancers are called Lynch syndrome, or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
- Other, rare mutations: Mutations in BARD1, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, DICER1, and other genes can increase your ovarian cancer risk. DICER1 mutations can cause a rare ovarian cancer called a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor.
Treatment & Wellness Care
Our extensive system of clinical and support services goes beyond targeting the cancer itself to taking care of each women’s needs as a whole person. We will work closely with you to determine what care pathway is suited to your particular diagnosis, individual biology and personal preferences. Learn more about our support services »
To customize your treatment plan, we use a detailed genomic test that can identify the unique genetic fingerprint of your cancer to gain critical insight into how we might best fight it.
Whether using traditional methods, such as surgery, or innovative therapies that are unique to Stanford, such as new treatments that use your immune system to fight the cancer, you can be assured that you will get the latest and most effective care.
Surgical Therapy
Our doctors use some of the most advanced and minimally invasive techniques to surgically remove tumors and minimize the chance of leaving microscopic amounts of tumor behind. Surgical therapies include:
- Hysterectomy
- Sentinel node mapping
- Salpingo-oophorectomy—a surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can be vital if you are newly diagnosed, as minimizing the amount of disease left behind after surgery can significantly reduce the risk of reoccurrence. Radiation therapies include:
- Intensity modulated radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy/localized therapy
Medical Therapy
Doctors and researchers at Stanford Health Care have been at the forefront of developing and improving medical therapies, which can include:
- Chemotherapy
- Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Immunotherapy (biologic therapy)
- Investigational treatments, including PARP inhibitors, immunotherapies, such as dendritic cell therapy, and ovarian cancer vaccines
close Newly Diagnosed
Treatment & Wellness Care
For people with recurrent cancer or cancer that has spread to other areas (known as metastatic cancer), we apply the full force of Stanford’s advanced diagnostics, scientific understanding, and investigative drive to learn about the specific biology of your cancer.
Our use of the newest techniques and clinical trials for screening and diagnosing ovarian or peritoneal cancer means greater opportunities to catch a recurrent or metastatic disease before it advances significantly.
A team of specialists, including gynecologic oncologists, geneticists and others, will discuss the nuances of your case, taking into account age, gender, family history, and side effects. Treatment options may include taking part in a clinical trial using new, highly targeted drugs.
Surgical Therapy
Surgery may stop the further spread of disease, and our team of doctors will work closely with you to determine whether or not it should be considered.
- Hysterectomy
- Sentinel node mapping
- Salpingo-oophorectomy - Surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy may be useful for cancer that has spread beyond the ovaries and fallopian tubes. For advanced disease, radiation also can help reduce painful symptoms. Radiation therapy options include:
- Intensity modulated radiotherapy
- Brachytherapy/localized therapy
Medical Therapy
Many women with reoccurring cancer or cancer that has spread can benefit from medical therapies, particularly chemotherapy drugs. Clinical trials for investigational therapies also offer new hope.
- Chemotherapy
- Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Immunotherapy (biologic therapy)
- Investigational treatments, including PARP inhibitors, immunotherapies, such as dendritic cell therapy, and ovarian cancer vaccines
Clinical & Wellness Support
Our psychologists and psychiatrists are highly experienced and will understand your unique needs. Supportive and palliative care can help you better manage symptoms and maintain the lifestyle you desire. Learn more about our comprehensive support »
close Recurrent or Advanced
Most ovarian cancer is not tied to hereditary risk. Still, we would like to hear from you if you or at least one member of your family has the disease. Because inherited mutations cause approximately 25% of ovarian cancer, we do not want to miss anyone we can potentially help. Learn more about our Cancer Genetics Program »
Risk Assessment
Assessing your risk involves looking at your personal and family medical histories. We may also recommend genetic testing, using the most-up-to-date techniques to look at many genes at once.
Throughout the process, our genetic counselors discuss the implications for your health, life, and family. We can help you share information with relatives. Learn about cancer risk assessment with genetic testing and counseling »
Risk Management
While we continue to work on improved ovarian cancer screening, current approaches often do not detect the disease until symptoms appear. At that point, it is usually too late for curative treatment. The lack of options influences national guidelines, which our doctors help write:
- Surgery: Many people with high inherited risk will not develop ovarian cancer. But because screening is not yet viable, we recommend removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes. The age to do so depends on the particular mutation found and ranges from the late 30s to late 40s. We offer hormone replacement to counter the early-onset menopause, as well as nonhormonal options for women with cancer or those who have already gone through menopause. A sexual medicine specialist can provide further help. For Lynch syndrome, we also recommend uterus removal.
- Oral contraceptives: Taking birth control medications can help prevent ovarian cancer in the short term. We still recommend eventual removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes. We may suggest contraception if you are still years from the usual age for surgery.
- Cancer treatment: If you have ovarian cancer and a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, we may recommend an approved, targeted therapy called a PARP inhibitor.
Genetic Mutations and Ovarian Cancer
Genes pass down the DNA you need. But some missing, duplicated, or miscoded genes increase ovarian cancer risk. While researchers have not identified them all, those we know include:
- BRCA1 and BRCA2: Mutations in these genes cause most hereditary ovarian cancers, with ties to breast cancer and other cancers. Approximately 40% of women with a BRCA1 mutation develop ovarian cancer, and approximately 10% to 20% with a BRCA2 mutation do. In women without a mutation, fewer than 2% do. See our BRCA decision tool, created by Stanford doctors and scientists and used by women worldwide to weigh their options.
- Genes related to Lynch syndrome: Mutations in MLH1, MSH2, EPCAM, MSH6, and PMS2 genes can raise ovarian cancer risk. These mutations can also cause skin, brain, colorectal, and other gastrointestinal cancers. Together, such familiar cancers are called Lynch syndrome, or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
- Other, rare mutations: Mutations in BARD1, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, DICER1, and other genes can increase your ovarian cancer risk. DICER1 mutations can cause a rare ovarian cancer called a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor.
close Genetic Counseling
Ovarian, Fallopian Tube and Peritoneal Cancer
Learn about ovarian and fallopian tube cancer symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment options from the gynecologic oncology experts at Stanford Women’s Cancer Center in Palo Alto, CA - serving Northern California.
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