Staging ovarian cancer will help the doctor distinguish how far the cancer cells have been spreading all over one persons system. All the tests and the scans that an ovarian Cancer patient had gone through will give information about what stage it is already. Staging ovarian cancer is very important to help the doctor decide what treatment the patient should undergo.
The doctors only use 1-4 staging system for this type of cancer; which they call the FIGO system. This was gotten after its author “the International Federation Gynecological Oncologists”. But, before engaging into any stages of Ovarian Cancer, patients are first having Borderline Tumors.
Borderline Tumors are composed of low grade cells, which mean that these cells are slow growing. These cells have not yet start to spread into or even damage the normal ovarian tissues surrounding them.
Let us now discuss the 4 different stages of Ovarian Cancer. From a mild stage of cancer to the worst and incurable stage ever.
Stage I means that the cancer is only in the ovaries and this stage is divided into three groups; which are, Stage Ia whereas the cancer is only being contained inside one of the ovary. Stage Ib is where the cancer is contained in the 2 ovaries. And lastly Stage Ic is where Stages Ia or Ib or either of it have cancer on the surface of at least one ovary. This is where cancer cells are being found in fluid which is being taken inside your abdomen during your surgery or even your ovary burst before or during your surgery.
Stage II is where cancer has grown outside the ovary or ovaries, which is also inside the lower tummy area or commonly known as our pelvis. This is also being subdivided into three groups which are: Stage IIa, this is where the cancer has been spreading into the fallopian tubes or womb.
Stage IIb is where the cancer has grown into other tissues in the pelvis. And lastly, Stage IIc, this is where Stages IIa or IIb or either have some of the cancer on the surface of one of the ovary, or cancer cells are being found from the fluid taken from the abdomen like what happened in Stage Ic.
Stage III is where cancer has already spread outside the pelvis into the abdominal cavity. It is also being considered as a Stage 3 cancer if it is found in the lymph nodes in the upper abdomen, the groin, or behind the womb.
Like the other stages of cancer, this stage is also being subdivided into three groups. These are: Stage IIIa, this is where cancer can be seen under the microscope in the tissue which is taken from the lining of the abdomen or the omentum.
Stage IIIb, is where some tumor growths of about 2cm or smaller than that is being formed on the lining of the abdomen. And Stage IIIc, also has tumor growths that is larger than 2cm on the lining of the abdomen. This is where even the lymph nodes in the upper abdomen, groin, or even behind the womb can contain cancer.
Last stage is the Stage IV of Ovarian Cancer; this is where the cancer had been spreading into other body organs such as the liver or lungs. This is the most critical and incurable stage for those who have Ovarian Cancer.
