An ovarian cancer is a disease wherein there are cancer cells in the ovaries of a woman. Treatment will be based upon the extent of the stages that is why it is essential for the right diagnosis and classification of the spread of tumors for staging.

In the cancer of the ovaries, there are four stages because it is standard for doctors to use a 1 to 4 staging system. It is more commonly known as the FIGO systems (named after the authors from the International Federation of Gynaecological Oncologists).  The identification of these stages will be based from the histopathological tests from the sample tumor which was taken during Laparotomy. Other ways for staging are blood tests, needle biopsy or through imaging studies. Staging is very important especially for the physician because the identification of the stages will be a factor for the appropriate and accurate treatment recommendation as well as for the patient’s overall survival.

The first stage of the cancer is means that the cancer cells are basically located only in one ovary. Stage 1 will be classified into 3 groups, the Stage 1a, Stage 1b and Stage 1c. In Stage 1a, only one ovary is affected whereas in Stage 1b, both the ovaries have cancer. Stage 1c is a stage whether the cancer cells are present on one or both ovaries; there are cancer cells which were taken into the stomach possibly brought about by surgery or the rupture of the ovary before surgery.

Stage 2 cancer means that not only the ovaries were affected but also there is a cancer cells growth in the pelvis affecting the fallopian tube and uterus. However, this stage is not yet affecting the abdomen. This stage is divided into 3 groups namely Stage 2a, Stage 2b and Stage 2c. In Stage 2a, the fallopian tube is affected whereas in Stage 2b, other pelvic tissues are affected such as the bladder or the rectum. Stage 2c imposes that cancer cells are growing in different pelvic tissues and the fluid taken into the abdomen is cancerous.

Stage 3 cancer of the ovaries includes cancer cells affecting the organs of the abdomen such as the abdominal lymph nodes, liver as well as bowel. There are also 3 stages classifications; the Stage 3a, Stage 3b and Stage 3c. Stage 3a ovarian cancer is concentrated in the abdominal lining and it is microscopic while Stage 3b is also in the abdominal lining but it is visible by the naked eye which measures at least 2cm. Stage 3c, lining of the abdomen is still affected but the tumor growths are larger than those in the Stage 3b.

Ovarian cancer which is in Stage IV had already affected distant organs such as the lungs, brain or the liver. But if the ovarian cancer cells are just beneath the liver and not inside the liver, it is still considered a stage 3 cancer.

After the identification of the different stages of the ovarian cancer, the doctor will now have to figure out the best ovarian cancer treatment for the patient.