Day 11: A Month of Teal- Staging Ovarian Cancer

I took the weekend off from posting. I attended the Kaleidoscope Of Hope Ovarian Cancer Foundation's Morristown, NJ walk on Sunday. It was amazing to see so many people dedicated to raising awareness and funds for research. 

Ovarian Cancer Staging

The staging of ovarian cancer follows an international system called the FIGO (International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology) staging system.  Staging usually occurs at surgery.

Stage I: The cancer is only in the ovaries or fallopian tubes.

Stage II: The cancer involves one or both of the ovaries or fallopian tubes and has spread below the pelvis, or involves peritoneal cancer.

Stage III: The cancer involves one or both of the ovaries or fallopian tubes, or peritoneal cancer. It has spread to the peritoneum outside the pelvis and/or to lymph nodes in the retroperitoneum (lymph nodes along the major blood vessels, such as the aorta) behind the abdomen.

Stage IV: The cancer has spread to organs outside of the abdominal area.

These stages may include subsets , such as Stage IIIB . For complete descriptions please see the Cancer.net page. http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/ovarian-fallopian-tube-and-peritoneal-cancer/stages-and-grades

or this information from the SGO https://www.sgo.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/FIGO-Ovarian-Cancer-Staging_1.10.14.pdf
 

Dee

 Every Day is a Blessing! 

Staging Ovarian Cancer

Staging determines where the ovarian cancer is found in a women's body. Most ovarian cancers are staged during surgery when tissue samples are taken and examined. But cancers that have spread may be staged using biopsy and CT scans. The stage of your ovarian cancer will be used to determine the best treatments for you. 

Gynecologic oncologists / surgical oncologists use the FIGO scale while staging. Here are the main stages:

Stage I: Tumor confined to the ovary or fallopian tube.

Stage II: The cancer is in one or both ovaries or fallopian tubes and has spread to other organs (such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder, the sigmoid colon, or the rectum) within the pelvis. It has not spread to lymph nodes or distant sites.

Stage III: The cancer is in one or both ovaries. And may have spread beyond the pelvis into the lining of the abdomen and/or has spread to lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen

Stage IV: The cancer has spread to the inside of the spleen, liver, lungs, or other organs located outside the peritoneal cavity. This is known as distant metastasis.

For complete staging please see this SGO FIGO staging document : 
https://www.sgo.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/FIGO-Ovarian-Cancer-Staging_1.10.14.pdf
or 
the ACS web page: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-staging

The tissue / fluid from the staging process is examined by a pathologist for type (Histologic type) and grade.  He/she will describe the cancer as Grade 1, 2 or 3. Grade 1 ovarian cancer tissue is most like ovarian tissue while Grade 3 is irregular and more likely to  metastasize. For ovarian cancer you may hear the terms "Low grade"  or "High grade" to describe your tissue.
(Source:

http://www.ocrf.org/about-ovarian-cancer/treatment-of-ovarian-cancer/staging-and-grading)

Recurrent ovarian cancer: The cancer has come back after it has been treated. It may appear in other parts of the body, but it is still ovarian cancer.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!