Stage 2 ovarian cancer
The stage of a cancer tells you how big it is and if it has spread. The tests and scans you have to diagnose your cancer will give some information about the stage. But your doctor might not be able to tell you the exact stage until you have surgery.
Doctors use the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system to stage cancers in the:
- ovaries
- fallopian tubes
- peritoneum
There are four stages, numbered 1 to 4.
Stage 2 ovarian cancer means the cancer has grown outside the ovaries or fallopian tubes. It is growing within the 
. Treatment is surgery and chemotherapy.
What is stage 2 ovarian cancer?
Stage 2 ovarian cancer means the cancer has grown outside the ovaries or fallopian tubes. It is growing within the area between your hip bones (the pelvis). There may also be cancer cells in the abdomen.
It is divided into 2 groups:
Stage 2A means the cancer has grown into other female organs such as the womb
Stage 2B means the cancer has grown into other tissues in the pelvis, such as the bladder or bowel (rectum or sigmoid colon)
Treating stage 2 ovarian cancer
The main treatments are surgery and chemotherapy.
Your healthcare team consider several factors when deciding what treatment you need. These include:
- where the cancer has spread to
- whether the specialist surgeon (gynaecological oncologist) thinks they can remove all the cancer
- your general health
Surgery
Your specialist surgeon (gynaecological oncologist) will remove:
- both ovaries
- fallopian tubes
- your womb (including the cervix)
They will also check where the cancer has spread to in your pelvis and if it is in your lymph nodes. Your gynaecological oncologist will aim to remove as much of the cancer as possible.
This is called cytoreductive surgery. You may also hear it called debulking surgery.
Chemotherapy
You might have:
- chemotherapy after surgery – this is called adjuvant chemotherapy with cytoreductive surgery
- chemotherapy before and after surgery – this is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy with interval cytoreductive surgery
Your healthcare team will discuss the best treatment for you. When you have chemotherapy will depend on your individual case.
