In Stage 4, cancer has spread beyond the abdomen to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, tissue inside the liver or to other distant sites. When cancer cells are found in the fluid around the lungs, this is also considered Stage 4 ovarian cancer.

Stage 4A: Cancer cells are present in the fluid around the lungs (this condition is called a malignant pleural effusion) but have not spread to other areas such as the spleen, liver or lymph nodes that are not in the abdomen

Stage 4B: Cancer is seen inside the spleen or liver, in lymph nodes outside the abdomen or pelvis, and/or in other sites outside the peritoneal cavity.

Stage 4 Prognosis & Survival Rates

Most women diagnosed with distant spread ovarian cancer, which includes Stage 4 ovarian cancer have a five-year survival rate of approximately 31%. 

The SEER program under the National Cancer Institute tracks survival data according to whether the cancer is localized, regional or has spread to locations beyond the ovaries at the time of diagnosis. Survival rates are often based on studies of large numbers of people, but they can’t predict what will happen in any particular person’s case.

Remember, people are not statistics! In our Survivor Stories section, you can read the stories of women living with Stage 4 ovarian cancer here in Minnesota.

Stage 4 Treatment

Treatment for Stage 4 ovarian cancer will most likely consist of both surgery and chemotherapy. The timing of the surgery will depend on multiple factors including the age of the patient, the overall amount of the cancer and location. Sometimes, some chemotherapy is given first to help shrink the cancer before surgery. More chemotherapy is given after the surgery as well. Additional therapies are sometimes given after the initial chemotherapy (maintenance therapy).

Source: NIH, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance & American Cancer Society