What happens after treatment for cancer of the ovary

After your treatment is finished, you will have regular check-ups and possible scans or x-rays. These check-ups will probably continue for several years. If you have any problems, or notice any new symptoms in between these times, let your doctor or specialist nurse know as soon as possible.

You may be asked to take part in a trial to see whether regular testing of blood levels of CA125 is helpful in detecting a recurrence of ovarian cancer.

Currently it is not known whether regular testing of CA125 can detect recurrence earlier and whether this can improve survival for women who have been treated for ovarian cancer. Some women may only have CA125 testing if they have signs or symptoms that could be due to a recurrence of the cancer.

For people whose treatment is over apart from regular check-ups, CancerBACUP’s section on adjusting to life after cancer gives useful advice on how to keep healthy and adjust to life after treatment.

If the cancer comes back

If the cancer comes back, treatment with chemotherapy is often used to keep the cancer under control for a time. This can sometimes be effective for a few years. Many different types of chemotherapy can be used in this situation. Surgery may also be used to remove tumours.