Surgery for ovarian cancer

The type of surgery you have depends on where the cancer is. The surgeon aims to remove as much cancer as possible if it’s spread. 

A laparotomy is an operation to look inside your tummy and pelvis to find out if there is any cancer and if it has spread.

Before your operation, you have tests to check your fitness and you meet members of your treatment team. 

You have a general anaesthetic so you can't feel anything during the operation. This sends you into a deep sleep. 

Surgery to remove ovarian cancer is major surgery. You wake up in the intensive care unit or a high dependency recovery unit.

There is a risk of problems or complications after any operation. Many problems are minor but some can be more serious. 

Recovering physically and emotionally from surgery will take time. You will need to rest for the first few weeks.