In many cases, the treatment for ovarian cancer involves a combination of cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. The primary objective of the surgery is to identify, extract, or diminish the size of cancerous tumours within the abdomen to enhance overall survival rates. Often, this procedure involves the simultaneous removal of all reproductive organs, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus (womb), and cervix.
The surgery is commonly conducted through an open incision on the abdomen (midline cut), although in some cases, a keyhole (laparoscopic) approach may be feasible. Additional surgical measures may be necessary to eradicate the cancer, including bowel surgery that may involve the use of a stoma bag, removal of the tumour and associated organs (e.g., womb, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, appendix, omentum/fat, serosa, spleen, liver capsule, parts of the stomach), and removal of the peritoneum.
These surgeries are performed by specialised surgeons and often involve a multidisciplinary team, including liver or bowel surgeons.
As cytoreductive surgery is often complemented by chemotherapy, treatment approaches may vary, with some individuals undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy, while others may receive chemotherapy initially, followed by interval cytoreductive surgery and subsequent chemotherapy.
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Collaborating with a diverse multispecialty team, Mr Saurabh Phadnis is dedicated to providing individualised patient care, aiming for optimal outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for individuals with advanced stage Ovarian Cancer.
In his role as a prominent surgeon at specialist London Cancer centres, he has performed approx. 150 cytoreductive surgical procedures offering specialist expertise and leveraging the collective expertise of the specialised team to support patients throughout every stage of their gynaecological cancer journey, from pre to post-surgery.