What does staging of ovarian cancer mean?
Stage refers to how far the disease has advanced. Accurate staging is important in treatment planning because the prognosis (outcome) worsens as the stage increases. Generally, there are four stages of ovarian cancer. Stage I – Disease is limited to the ovary. Stage II – Cancer has spread beyond the ovary, but is still limited to the pelvis (below the navel). Stage III – Cancer has spread beyond the ovary, but is still limited to the pelvis and abdominal cavity (excluding the liver). Stage IV – Cancer has spread to the liver or outside the ovary and abdomen, often involving the space surrounding the lung.
