Are there survivors of ovarian clear cell carcinoma, especially stage 1C?
Yes, there are survivors! Stage 1C clear cell carcinoma has a good survival rate. About 84.6 percent of people with stage 1 ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) live for five years or more after diagnosis.
Stage 1C means one of these situations occurred Show Full Answer
Are there survivors of ovarian clear cell carcinoma, especially stage 1C?
Yes, there are survivors! Stage 1C clear cell carcinoma has a good survival rate. About 84.6 percent of people with stage 1 ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) live for five years or more after diagnosis.
Stage 1C means one of these situations occurred:
- The tumor broke open during surgery (IC1)
- The tumor broke open before surgery, or cancer cells are on the outer surface of the ovaries or fallopian tubes (IC2)
- Cancer cells are present in abdominal or pelvic fluid (IC3) Treatment for stage 1C typically includes:
Surgery - Usually the first step, which may involve:
- Removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes
- Removal of the uterus
- Removal of lymph nodes
- Removal of the layer of fat covering abdominal organs
Chemotherapy - People with stage 1C epithelial ovarian cancer usually undergo chemotherapy after surgery. Common drugs include carboplatin or cisplatin combined with paclitaxel or docetaxel.
However, clear cell carcinoma tends to be resistant to standard platinum-based chemotherapy, so it may not work as well as with other ovarian cancer types. Some people still benefit from it though.
Doctors may also recommend bevacizumab (Avastin) along with chemotherapy. Clinical trials are exploring additional targeted therapies specifically for clear cell carcinoma. Factors that may improve prognosis include having endometriosis. Factors that may indicate a more challenging course include older age, high blood levels of certain markers (CA19-9 or HE4), increased abdominal fluid, cancer spread to lymph nodes, or certain gene changes.
Talk with your healthcare team about your specific situation and treatment options. They can provide personalized guidance based on your individual factors.
January 14