Once ovarian cancer is diagnosed, staging occurs. Staging describes the spread and extent of the cancer, and helps to determine prognosis and treatment options. Because the symptoms of ovarian cancer can be vague, approximately 80 percent of ovarian cancer is diagnosed at a later stage, affecting survival rates.
Stage 3A
In Stage 3A ovarian cancer, cancer involving one or both of the ovaries is able to be seen by the surgeon during surgery, but no cancer in the abdomen can be seen with the naked eye, according to the American Cancer Society. When biopsies of the upper lining of the abdomen are seen under a microscope, small amounts of cancer are able to be seen. If the cancer has spread to the surface of the liver, it is considered Stage 3. There is no cancer in the lymph nodes. The five-year survival rate for this stage is 45 percent.
Stage 3B
In this sub-stage of ovarian cancer, there is cancer in one or both ovaries and small cancers that are visible to the surgeon, but they are less than 2cm in the abdomen. Like the previous stage, there is no cancer in the lymph nodes. The five-year survival rate for this stage is 39 percent.
Stage 3C
Stage 3C ovarian cancer involves one or both of the ovaries, and the following may also be present: Cancer has been found in the lymph nodes; or there are tumors larger than 2cm in the abdomen or on the abdominal lining, called the peritoneum. The 5-year survival rate for Stage 3C is approximately 35 percent.
Stage 4
Stage 4 ovarian cancer, also known as metastatic ovarian cancer, describes cancer that has spread to other organs such as inside the liver, lungs or organs outside of the abdominal cavity. If cancer cells are found in the fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion), it's also Stage 4 cancer. For this stage of ovarian cancer, the five-year survival rate is 18 percent.
