Epithelial ovarian cancer is the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers. Approximately 80% of patients will eventually die of the disease. However, survival in the short term is quite good, meaning many years. With the addition of IP chemotherapy, the survival of ovarian cancer has been significantly extended. According to studies, if a patient undergoes optimal debulking followed by IP chemotherapy, then they have a greater than 50% chance to still be alive in six years. This is quite good compared to other advanced stage cancers. Even in the recurrent setting, epithelial ovarian cancer is often very sensitive to chemotherapy. The disease can often go in to complete remission (no detectable disease) many times. However, once it recurs, it is not curable and will continue to come back (olaparib [Lynparza] and/or niraparib [Zejula] may be used to treat recurrent ovarian cancers).Germ cell and stromal tumors have a much better prognosis. They are often cured because they are more often detected at early stages.
