The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center takes a team approach.
Your care team includes different types of doctors and other healthcare professionals who specialize in ovarian cancer. Your team meets regularly to discuss your case, review test results, offer recommendations for therapy, and develop an individualized treatment plan based on the stage of your cancer.
Your Ovarian Cancer Treatment Team
Your care team will include specialists from several medical disciplines, such as:
- Gynecologists, who use their knowledge of the female reproductive system to help plan treatment.
- Pathologists, who analyze tumor tissue samples for evidence of cancer.
- Gynecologic oncologists, who specialize in diagnosing and treating gynecologic cancers.
- Medical oncologists, who treat cancer using drug therapies.
Surgery for Ovarian Cancer
For most women, surgery to remove one or both ovaries, or any ovarian tumors — and often the fallopian tubes and sometimes the uterus — is effective for treating ovarian cancer. Whenever possible, Englewood Health surgeons use minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat ovarian cancer. These techniques are done through smaller incisions, reduce your likelihood of complications, and may help you heal faster.
Our specialists also offer robot-assisted gynecologic surgery using the latest generation da Vinci® surgical robots. In fact, our gynecologic oncologists were the first in the region to perform more than 1,000 robotic-assisted surgeries.
If you are concerned about preserving your fertility, your surgeon will let you know if you have a normal ovary you can keep, along with your uterus, so you can try to become pregnant in the future. Fertility-sparing ovarian cancer surgery may be an option for some young women who do not have advanced cancer.
Depending on your preferences, your doctor may complete your procedure using bloodless surgery techniques to help minimize blood loss. For more than 20 years, we’ve helped women avoid the need for blood transfusions during ovarian cancer surgery.
Medical Treatments for Ovarian Cancer
In addition to surgery, you may need anti-cancer medications to try to kill all cancer cells and reduce the chance that the cancer may come back. Our Infusion Center, located on the Englewood Hospital campus, offers a comfortable and convenient experience for patients returning often for therapy. We also offer medical treatments at our Jersey City and Fair Lawn locations. Your doctor may recommend:
- Chemotherapy: Using powerful anti-cancer drugs, doctors give this treatment directly into your bloodstream. Chemotherapy may be particularly effective if ovarian cancer has metastasized (spread) beyond the ovaries.
- Hormone therapy: In some cases, ovarian tumors cause the production of excess estrogen, one of the female reproductive hormones. Doctors may prescribe certain medications to help lower estrogen levels in your body and prevent further cancer growth.
- Targeted therapy: Some medications target the molecules driving ovarian cancer growth, such as PARP inhibitors or bevacizumab. Your doctor may recommend targeted therapy if genetic testing of your tumor indicates your cancer may respond well to this treatment.
- Immunotherapy: If you have advanced ovarian cancer with certain genetic features, you may be able to receive an immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab. This drug boosts the power of your immune system to find and kill cancer cells.
Treatment of Metastatic Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer that has grown to an advanced stage may spread to other organs, such as the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen). Our cancer team includes specialists who are experienced in the care of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (cancer of the peritoneum that spread there from another site). If you have metastatic ovarian cancer, we offer a range of treatments — including debulking surgery (cytoreduction), chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy — and match you with those most likely to be effective for you.
Geriatric Oncology for Ovarian Cancer
At Englewood Health, we offer specialized care for older adults diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Our team focuses on the unique needs of elderly patients, tailoring treatment plans to address both the cancer and any age-related health concerns. With a comprehensive approach that balances effective cancer treatment and maintaining quality of life, we provide personalized care that takes into account the patient's overall well-being and treatment tolerability.
Clinical Trials
Our oncologists participate in clinical trials evaluating promising new treatment options for ovarian cancer. A clinical trial may give you access to a cutting-edge therapy that is not yet available as a standard treatment. Your care team will let you know if you may be eligible for any clinical trials. The decision to participate is entirely yours.
Survivorship Services
After completing multidisciplinary therapy, patients are guided through a comprehensive survivorship meeting. This meeting provides an opportunity to review the treatments received and establish a personalized plan for ongoing surveillance and follow-up care. Our team will assess your current health status, discuss strategies for monitoring your recovery, and help ensure you have the necessary support for long-term well-being following ovarian cancer treatment.