Radiation There is some evidence that external beam radiation therapy is as effective as
chemotherapy for patients with early stages of ovarian carcinoma who have no visible cancer remaining after their operation.
Sometimes radiation therapy is used for microscopic recurrent ovarian cancer or cancer that has not responded well to chemotherapy. Radiation may be given only to the pelvis or, more typically, to the entire abdomen (usually five days each week for four to five weeks), which results in a better survival rate. Complications and side effects can be considerable and can include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, bleeding from the bladder or rectum, vaginal scarring, intestinal obstruction, or leaks (fistulas) in the urinary or intestinal tracts.
Radioactive phosphate inserted directly into the abdominal cavity is sometimes given to women who have no visible cancer or less than 1 mm of residual disease after surgery.
