Fallopian Tube Cancer

Overview

Fallopian tube cancer begins in a woman’s fallopian tubes, the small ducts that link a woman’s ovaries to her uterus. The fallopian tubes are a part of a woman’s reproductive system and every woman has two fallopian tubes, one located on each side of the uterus.

Fallopian tube cancer begins when cells in one or both fallopian tubes change and grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous, meaning it can spread to other parts of the body). Cancer may begin in any of the different cell types that make up the fallopian tubes, and the most common type is adenocarcinoma (a cancer of cells from glands). Leiomyosarcoma (a cancer of smooth muscle cells) and transitional cell carcinoma (a cancer of the cells lining the fallopian tubes) are less common.

As a tumor in the fallopian tube grows, it can push against the walls of the tube and cause abdominal pain. If untreated, the cancer can spread into and through the walls of the fallopian tubes and eventually into the pelvis (lower abdomen) and stomach areas.

Treatment

The treatment of fallopian tube cancer depends on the size and location of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread, and the woman’s overall health. In many cases, a team of doctors will work with the patient to determine the best treatment plan.

This section outlines treatments that are the standard of care (best treatments available) for this specific type of cancer. Patients are also encouraged to consider clinical trials when making treatment plan decisions. A clinical trial is a research study to test a new treatment to prove it is safe, effective, and possibly better than standard treatment. Your doctor can help you review all treatment options. For more information, visit the Clinical Trials section.
Descriptions of the most common treatment options for fallopian tube cancer are listed below.

Surgery

A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer using surgery. The stage of the tumor determines the type of surgery used. Early stage fallopian tube cancer, when the tumor is limited to the fallopian tubes, is treated by surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries (called a salpingo-oophorectomy). If the cancer has spread, the surgeon may remove the uterus (called a hysterectomy) and other structures in the pelvis, including nearby lymph nodes, to evaluate them for the presence of cancer cells. Learn more about cancer surgery.

Depending on the extent of the surgery, a woman’s fertility (ability to bear children in the future) may be affected. If both ovaries are removed, a woman can no longer become pregnant. The loss of both ovaries also eliminates the body’s source of sex hormones, resulting in premature menopause, which means that the patient is likely to experience menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal dryness after surgery. Women are encouraged to talk with their doctors before and after surgery and other cancer treatments about sexual and fertility concerns, and ways to address them.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy is delivered through the bloodstream, targeting cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication. Some people may receive chemotherapy in their doctor’s office; others may go to the hospital. A chemotherapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of cycles given over a specific time.

Chemotherapy is usually given after surgery for fallopian tube cancer. The most common types of chemotherapy to treat fallopian tube cancer are paclitaxel (Taxol) and carboplatin (Paraplat, Paraplatin).

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to kill cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. When radiation treatment is given using implants, it is called internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy. Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to shrink the size of the tumor or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.