Surgery In women with early stage cancer, one or both ovaries are usually removed (with or
without removal of the uterus) and meticulous surgical staging is performed. This involves washings from the abdominal cavity to detect malignant cells and meticulous inspection of the abdominal cavity surfaces with biopsy of any suspicious lesions. Included in staging is removal of the fatty tissue attached to the stomach and large intestines (omentectomy) and multiple, random biopsies of the lining of the abdominal cavity. In addition, pelvic or para-aortic nodes may be biopsied if felt to be abnormal.
In women with advanced cancer, surgical removal of as much tumor as possible, also called tumor debulking , is standard therapy. If possible, the uterus, both fallopian tubes, both ovaries, the omentum and as much of the grossly visible cancer as possible is removed.
A permanent colostomy may occasionally be necessary but is rare in women who have had a preoperative bowel prep—a cleansing of the intestines with enemas and laxatives and preoperative administration of oral antibiotics.
In advanced recurrent cancer, surgery is sometimes required to relieve intestinal obstruction.
Complications of surgery can include infection, bleeding and injury to the bladder, rectum or ureter causing a leak, although this is rare. There may be blood clots in the legs, which can occasionally dislodge and travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
