What Is Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer?

Stage 4 ovarian cancer is the most advanced stage of cancer of the ovaries. Oncologists describe how far cancer has spread using a staging system that consists of four progressive stages. When ovarian cancer reaches stage 4, it has spread beyond the ovaries to other areas of the body, like the lungs, liver, or other organs outside the abdominal cavity.

The ovaries have three types of cells: epithelial cells cover the outside of the ovary, germ cells within the ovary become egg cells used in reproduction, and stromal cells produce female hormones and make up the structure of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is a disease that occurs when either hereditary or environmental factors cause damage to DNA in one or more of the three types of ovarian cells. Once cell DNA is damaged, normal cells begin growing abnormally quickly, either dividing too quickly, living too long, or both. Eventually, abnormal tissue cells take over normal tissue and grow out of control, spreading to other organs of the body.

Evaluation of stage 4 ovarian cancer treatment options must take into account many factors other than just the cancer stage. A doctor will consider a patient’s age, health, and whether the patient plans on having children in the future in addition to the particulars of the cancer when recommending treatment. Options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Often, a combination of treatment approaches is used to attack the cancer.

Only about 20 percent of ovarian cancers are found at an early stage. Overall, the survival rate for stage 4 ovarian cancer is 29 percent, meaning 29 percent of stage 4 ovarian cancer patients live at least five years beyond diagnosis. Although staging is the most accurate means of determining prognosis, other factors can affect overall survival. Cell grade, meaning how abnormal cancer cells look from normal cells under a microscope, the histological cell type, and how much cancer remains after surgery can all affect prognosis.

Invasive epithelial stage 4 ovarian cancer is the most serious type of cancer cell type. Five-year survival rates are at 18 percent. Tumors involving the germ cells of the ovary have five-year survival rates of 55 percent. Ovarian tumors with low malignant potential have five-year survival rates of 77 percent.

It’s important to remember that survival rates are averages based on cancer patients from at least five years ago. Advancements in treatment options and the overall health of the patient may greatly improve the outlook. Some patients may die of other causes other than cancer before hitting the five-year survivor mark, while others may live far beyond five years and never experience a recurrence.