Ovarian Cancer Surgery in India

Ovarian cancer often causes vague symptoms such as bloating, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite and pelvic discomfort, so many women are diagnosed only after the disease has spread within the abdomen. Surgery performed by a specialist gynaecological oncologist is the cornerstone of treatment: it confirms the diagnosis, stages the cancer and, most importantly, removes as much tumour as possible. India's leading cancer centres perform complete staging surgery, extensive cytoreductive (debulking) surgery and HIPEC to international standards, combined with chemotherapy and modern maintenance drugs. Satyug Healthcare arranges opinions from top hospitals, your medical visa, accommodation and coordination with your oncologists.

Cost of ovarian cancer surgery in India starts from USD 6500 at leading JCI / NABH accredited hospitals. 6-8 days in hospital; total stay in India 3-4 weeks.

Final cost depends on the hospital, room category, doctor, implants/medicines used and the patient's medical condition. Share your reports with Satyug Healthcare for a free written estimate.

About the Procedure

• Most ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian cancers, of which high-grade serous carcinoma is the most common; germ cell and sex cord-stromal tumours are rarer types that often affect younger women and may allow fertility-sparing surgery.
• For early-stage disease, staging surgery removes the uterus (total abdominal hysterectomy), both tubes and ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), the omentum (a fatty apron in the abdomen), lymph nodes and peritoneal biopsies so the exact stage can be determined.
• For advanced disease, cytoreductive or debulking surgery aims to leave no visible tumour behind, because the amount of residual disease is one of the strongest predictors of survival. This may involve removing parts of the bowel, peritoneum, diaphragm surface or spleen.
• Surgery may be primary (done first) or interval (done after three or four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink the disease), depending on how widespread the cancer is and the patient's fitness.
• HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) bathes the abdominal cavity with heated chemotherapy at the end of interval cytoreductive surgery and may benefit selected patients.
• Almost all women with advanced ovarian cancer also receive platinum-based chemotherapy, and many are offered maintenance therapy with PARP inhibitors or bevacizumab, particularly if BRCA mutations or HRD are present.

Purpose of the Procedure

• To confirm the diagnosis and the exact type and grade of ovarian cancer from the removed tissue.
• To stage the cancer accurately, which determines whether chemotherapy is needed and how intensive it should be.
• To remove all visible tumour (complete cytoreduction), which significantly improves the effectiveness of chemotherapy and long-term outcomes.
• To relieve symptoms such as abdominal swelling, fluid build-up (ascites) and bowel obstruction.
• To preserve fertility in carefully selected young women with early-stage or non-epithelial tumours.
• To treat selected recurrences where all disease can be removed again (secondary cytoreduction).

Diagnosis and Tests Before the Procedure

• Consultation with a gynaecological oncologist and a detailed pelvic and abdominal examination.
• Tumour markers, especially CA-125, along with CEA, CA 19-9 and, in younger women, AFP, beta-hCG and LDH.
• Transvaginal and abdominal ultrasound to assess the ovarian mass and any fluid.
• Contrast CT scan or PET-CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis to map the extent of disease and plan surgery.
• MRI of the pelvis in selected cases to characterise the mass.
• Image-guided biopsy or ascitic fluid analysis if neoadjuvant chemotherapy is being considered; review of any existing biopsy blocks and slides.
• Genetic testing for BRCA1/BRCA2 and HRD testing of the tumour, which guide maintenance therapy and family counselling.
• Pre-anaesthesia assessment with blood tests, ECG and echocardiography, followed by tumour board discussion.

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. After tumour board review, you are admitted a day before surgery for final tests, consent and bowel preparation.
2. The operation is carried out under general anaesthesia, usually with an epidural catheter for pain relief after surgery.
3. A vertical midline incision is generally used so that the surgeon can examine the entire abdomen, from the pelvis to the diaphragm.
4. Any fluid is sent for analysis, and all abdominal surfaces are carefully inspected and the extent of disease is recorded.
5. The uterus, tubes, ovaries and omentum are removed, along with pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes where indicated.
6. In advanced disease, all visible tumour deposits are removed, which may require bowel resection, peritoneal stripping or removal of other affected organs.
7. If HIPEC is planned, heated chemotherapy is circulated through the abdomen for about 60-90 minutes before closing the incision.
8. You are monitored in the ICU or high-dependency unit for one to two days, then moved to your room, where you start walking and gradually resume eating.
9. You are discharged after about 6-8 days, and chemotherapy usually begins 3-6 weeks after surgery once you have recovered.

Risks and Possible Complications

• Bleeding requiring blood transfusion, particularly in extensive debulking surgery.
• Infection of the wound, chest, urinary tract or abdomen.
• Injury to the bowel, bladder or ureters, or a leak from a bowel join if bowel resection is performed.
• Temporary slowing of bowel function (ileus) or, rarely, the need for a temporary stoma.
• Blood clots in the legs or lungs, reduced by blood-thinning injections and early walking.
• Lymphoedema or a lymphocyst after lymph node removal.
• Immediate menopause if the ovaries are removed in a woman who has not yet reached menopause.
• Additional side effects of HIPEC and chemotherapy, such as kidney strain, low blood counts, nausea and fatigue.

Your specialist will explain the risks specific to your condition. Choosing an experienced, high-volume hospital keeps complication rates low.

Recovery and Aftercare

• Most women are walking within a day or two and are discharged after 6-8 days; recovery after HIPEC may take a little longer.
• Stitches or staples are removed around 10-14 days after surgery.
• Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for about 6 weeks while the abdominal wall heals.
• Patients are usually fit to fly about 2-3 weeks after surgery, after the wound review and discussion of the final histopathology report.
• Chemotherapy (commonly six cycles every three weeks) can be started in India or continued in your home country according to the plan made by your oncologist.
• Regular follow-up with clinical examination and CA-125 every 3 months for the first two years helps detect any recurrence early.

Why Choose India for Ovarian cancer surgery?

• JCI and NABH accredited hospitals with the latest medical technology
• Highly experienced specialists, many trained in the USA, UK and Europe
• Cost 60-80% lower than the USA, UK, Gulf countries and Singapore, with the same international-standard care
• No waiting lists - treatment can usually be scheduled within days of arrival
• Free end-to-end support from Satyug Healthcare: opinions, visa letter, airport pickup, interpreter and accommodation

Step-by-Step Process to Travel to India for Treatment

1. Share your reports - send your latest reports, scans/CD, angiography or echo films and passport copy to Satyug Healthcare on WhatsApp (+91-8860606766 / +91-9910655125) or email.
2. Free medical opinion & cost estimate - within 24-72 hours we share opinions and written cost estimates from 2-3 JCI/NABH-accredited hospitals and specialists.
3. Choose hospital & doctor - compare doctor experience, hospital, room category and total cost; we help you decide with no extra charge.
4. Visa Invitation Letter (VIL) - the hospital issues a VIL for the patient and up to two attendants; we arrange it within 24-48 hours.
5. Apply for Indian e-Medical Visa - apply online for the e-Medical Visa (patient) and e-Medical Attendant Visa (family) using the VIL; most approvals come in 3-5 working days.
6. Book flights & accommodation - we suggest flights and arrange a guest house, service apartment or hotel near the hospital to suit your budget.
7. Free airport pickup - our representative receives you at the airport and takes you to your hotel or directly to the hospital.
8. Hospital admission & treatment - a dedicated coordinator and language interpreter stay with you for registration, tests, doctor consultations, the procedure and billing.
9. Discharge & follow-up - you receive the discharge summary, prescriptions and fitness-to-fly certificate; follow-up checks are done before you fly.
10. Return home & tele-follow-up - we arrange airport drop and stay connected for online follow-up consultations with your doctor in India.

Contact Satyug Healthcare - International Patient Helpdesk: +91-8860606766 | +91-9910655125 (WhatsApp available) for a free medical opinion and cost estimate.