The kind of treatment which makes use of medication to destroy cancer cells is known as systemic therapy. In this kind of treatment, the medication is given through the bloodstream to reach the cancer cells present throughout the body. In the case of ovarian cancer, systemic therapy is prescribed by a medical oncologist or a gynecologic oncologist — who are specialists in the treatment of cancer with medication.

The three types of systemic therapy that can be provided in the case of ovarian cancer are as follows:

Chemotherapy: In this type of treatment, the cancer cells are destroyed by preventing them from growing, dividing, or creating more cancer cells. This is done through the medication sent through the bloodstream. A chemotherapy regimen involves a schedule over a certain number of cycles where a specific dosage of the drug would be administered. In this process, the patient may receive either one or a combination of several drugs. Chemotherapy is of two types:

• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: This is the term which is used to describe chemotherapy which is administered before an interval surgery. The major focus of this is reducing the size of the tumor before surgery. The typical treatment plan for neoadjuvant chemotherapy is planned in 3 to 4 cycles over 3 weeks. In this treatment, carboplatin is given intravenously with either docetaxel or paclitaxel.
• Adjuvant chemotherapy: This is the medical term which is used to describe chemotherapy given after surgery is done, with the major focus being on destroying any cancer cells left in the body. Similar to the case of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, carboplatin is given intravenously with paclitaxel or docetaxel. These drugs are usually scheduled every 3 weeks.

Targeted therapy: This kind of treatment involves the targeting of specific proteins, genes, or certain tissue environment cancer cells will require for their growth and survival. By targeting these, this treatment option blocks the growth and spread of the cancer cells efficiently and reduces any damage that is done to the healthy cells present in the body at the time of treatment.

The targets for different tumors are different. Multiple tests have to be run in each individual to find out the exact target that should be placed for a type of cancer. In the case of ovarian cancers, it has been observed that about 20% of high-grade tumors have mutations in BRCA genes.

Hormone therapy: This kind of treatment option is used for the treatment of low-grade tumors usually when recur. Some medications used in the treatment process here are aromatase inhibitors like anastrozole and letrozole, tamoxifen, and exemestane. Stromal tumors and recurrent granulosa cell tumors are treated with the help of this option.

Treatment through medication, when it comes to cancer, should only be done by professionals who specialize in this field. Understanding the particulars of a case by speaking to the doctor can make it clearer as to which treatment option would perfectly fit in the near future.