Please help, terrified - Ascites issue post ovarian cancer treatment

sbaw88
sbaw88 Member Posts: 1
in Ovarian Cancer #1

My mother was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer around 9 years back. It was discovered at a late stage so the doctors removed her ovaries along with the tumor. The cancer was treated through chemotherapy and she did well for a couple of years before it came back again. For the past 5-6 years, she has been on and off the chemotherapies but the last 2 years have been really rough. The doctors were unable to control cancer which was spreading all over, and she received close to 30 chemotherapy sessions during this time. Now cancer looks to be under control, CA125 is close to 17 but ascites is really troubling her. She has lost a lot of body weight, is unable to take a proper diet because of the fluid in her body, and her last chemotherapy session had to be cancelled as she is too weak to withstand the medicine.

 

The ascites problem started 3-4 months back. Around 4 litres of fluid was removed from her body every 4-5 weeks initially but now this time interval is decreasing. Most recently, she had to get the fluid removed after just 10 days. She is unable to walk on her own and having a lot of pain in back because of the weight of fluid in her stomach. Her hands, arms, and feet are all swollen. In short, she's in a very bad situation and we're really worried about her. I had the hardest conversation of my life with the doctor who said my mother might survive another 4-5 months. He suggested giving her the medicine Avastin 400 mg which might give her some more time and improve the quality of her life, but I couldn't find any source confirming that Avastin is used to cure ascites problem. Moreover, her body is not in a condition to withstand any more chemotherapies.  

 

I'd really appreciate if anyone could share their experience with the Ascites issue. We talked to another doctor who said this is one of the side effects of chemotherapy and she'll start getting better now as her treatment is over, but her condition is deteriorating every day. What should we expect? Is the first doctor right about her life expectancy? We are giving her salt-free diet, just a small step which might make a slight difference. Are there any other ways to cure Ascites? Please help me! 

 

Thank you.

Comments

  • flex
    flex Member Posts: 7
    #2
    Ascites

    Hello. I am sorry.  Like you, I am a caregiver. I am not a medical professional. Similarly, our fight with Ascites culminated after a four and a half year battle with ovarian cancer. The symptoms of Ascites compounded in the later stages of her illness. The cancer had metastasized to her liver, colon, and kidneys.

     

    In our view, as her liver enlarged, the Ascites became exceedingly problematic. As in your circumstances, my wife's fluid was drained at longer week intervals and drained more frequently as the Ascites worsen. Ultimately, we believed that the contributing reason for the Ascites, was the damaged and deteriorating liver.  

    Initial treatment of the Ascites began with diuretics, but they were ineffective.  I recall the Avistan, but I don't recall using it to specifically target the Ascites. Thus, I cannot opine on Avastin as a treatment option. However, we agree that you are correct in focusing on her diet as well as continuing her draining regiment for relief.

     

    I was glad to hear that her CA125 is at 17. That is great news!  How long ago was her last chemo treatment?  What was the name of the chemo therapy medication?  Numbers that low, after far-reaching chemo treatments show that her chemo regiment continues to hold her cancer cells at bay. I would dare say that her CA125 numbers matter because it may be the key to reducing her Ascites symptoms.

  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #3
    Ascites

    I was not in the same situation, as I dealt with ascites during frontline treatment, but had to have it drained every 3 days for two months.  YES, Avastin is used to dry up ascites.  And no, it is not a chemotherapy drug, but is a targeted therapy, so has much less severe side effects than the regular chemotherapy drugs.  It souds as if Avastin could be helpful for your mother.  The other thing to look at is her albumin level.  This is something that her doctor tests regularly with her bloodwork.  If it is below 2.0, her ascites may actually be accumulating because her albumin protein is too low and her tissues may be unable to hold fluids any longer.  If her albumin is low, talk to her doctor about albumin infusions.  Some forward thinking doctors will adminster these each time she has the fluid drained.  She should be taking in a lot of protein right now to replace that which she loses each time the fluid is drained.  Doctors would recommend Ensure, which is rather disgusting and she many not want to drink it.  But coconut milk smoothies (made with whole fat coconut milk in a can) with whey protein powder (Vital Whey is the best brand) should help her keep her protein levels up.  Good luck. 

  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    #4
    Tethys41 said:

    Ascites

    I was not in the same situation, as I dealt with ascites during frontline treatment, but had to have it drained every 3 days for two months.  YES, Avastin is used to dry up ascites.  And no, it is not a chemotherapy drug, but is a targeted therapy, so has much less severe side effects than the regular chemotherapy drugs.  It souds as if Avastin could be helpful for your mother.  The other thing to look at is her albumin level.  This is something that her doctor tests regularly with her bloodwork.  If it is below 2.0, her ascites may actually be accumulating because her albumin protein is too low and her tissues may be unable to hold fluids any longer.  If her albumin is low, talk to her doctor about albumin infusions.  Some forward thinking doctors will adminster these each time she has the fluid drained.  She should be taking in a lot of protein right now to replace that which she loses each time the fluid is drained.  Doctors would recommend Ensure, which is rather disgusting and she many not want to drink it.  But coconut milk smoothies (made with whole fat coconut milk in a can) with whey protein powder (Vital Whey is the best brand) should help her keep her protein levels up.  Good luck. 

    Kate!

    I am so glad to see you post!!!! I have missed you!  How are you doing?  Tell us all!  Hope you are back for good.  There are so many newbies that need your clear, concise experties!  Welcome home!  Debra(Jo)

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,688 Member
    #5
    debrajo said:

    Kate!

    I am so glad to see you post!!!! I have missed you!  How are you doing?  Tell us all!  Hope you are back for good.  There are so many newbies that need your clear, concise experties!  Welcome home!  Debra(Jo)

    Beaming

    See the big smile on my face ,Kate?  I ditto everything Debrajo said.

  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #6
    ConnieSW said:

    Beaming

    See the big smile on my face ,Kate?  I ditto everything Debrajo said.

    Thanks

    Ladies, thank you for your kindness.  I just popped in to take a look and it's so good to see everyone's faces again.  I am well.  Still NED, since completeing chemo over 5 years ago.  At my last appointment with my gyn/onc she said that they would say I am cured.  We both chuckled knowingly.  But I feel a healthy as I ever have.  I monitor a lot of blood work regualrly and there is no sign that anything is brewing.  CA-125 is currently 1.6.

    One lesson I have learned is that despite the huge impact that a cancer diagnosis had on my life, life goes on.  Although it was life-changing for me, to the world, it goes unnoticed.  I've changed jobs since my illness and no one at my new job knows my medical history.  And my perception of things is wildly different than that of my co-workers.  They get stressed out and upset about the smallest things.  I just step back and say to myself, "at least it isn't cancer." 

    I hope all of you ladies are well and that life is treating you fairly. 

     

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