Abdominal swelling post-chemo

clier
clier Member Posts: 29
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
So, I've just finished 6 months Folfox + Avastin, every other week. Had part of colon removed in April & did radiospheres as well. My dx is Colon Cancer w/ liver mets - 8 tumors spread throughout liver so resection of liver not an option, nor is transplant.

Now I'm 21/2 weeks out of chemo & my abdomen has swollen badly. Had a liter of fluid drained from it (thru 'parasentecis' in hospital) but it didn't help. If I eat a normal meal, I feel like my stomach skin is so tight I'm going to burst. Have kept my oncologist up with this but haven't gotten any good answers, or suggestions for relief.

We were treating it as gas/bloating, but it's not that. Anyone experienced this before? Pretty miserable.

Get results of my first post-chemo PET on Wednesday the 7th, day before my birthday. Hope the results are good.

Comments

  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #2
    Fluid
    Hi,
    I post on the esophageal board, but read this board every once in awhile. I have had my belly distended a couple of times, the first time I had parascentecis (sp) done and they drained two liters of fluid. The second time my belly got distended I went in to get it drained again, but that's not what it was, so they did a CT and found that I had a colon blockage. I ended up needing emergency colon surgery because it took so long for the docs to decide to do a CT scan, as they thought it was just a side effect from chemo and the ascites (fluid) filling up. My fluid builds in my body because I have cancer cells floating around in all the fluid and the fluid builds up trying to flush it out....did they test your fluid after doing the parascentecis?. I would suggest asking for a CT scan, and I didn't even leave the room and I knew what was going on, so I'd push for not waiting for results if that's the route you go. Good luck!
    Cathy
  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #3
    I have never heard of this
    I have never heard of this with cc, but I have with ovarian cancer. Which in the grand scheme of it all, really means nothing, only what I have heard or read! :) I emailed my sister who had a sister-in-law who died of ovarian cancer, in addition, my bro-in-law is a nurse practioner. Because it sounds like the same thing Theresa had- her tumors would "weep" and produce this unreal amount of fluid and severe swelling. Their response back was, "low albumin can cause this-- side effect of chemo? which might turn around after chemo is done
    could be tumors not weeping, but blocking the liver up" Just an opinion/suggestion/thought, please keep that in mind. And certainly your doctor would know more, although it sounds like he doesn't at this point!


    Interesting article on Hypoalbuminemia (Low Albumin)

    http://www.chemocare.com/managing/hypoalbuminemia-low-albumin.asp

    I think this is definitely something you should tell your doctor about. If your issue is due to low albumin, the article talks about a fluid restrictive diet.
  • Patteee
    Patteee Member Posts: 945
    #4
    kitten0385 said:

    Fluid
    Hi,
    I post on the esophageal board, but read this board every once in awhile. I have had my belly distended a couple of times, the first time I had parascentecis (sp) done and they drained two liters of fluid. The second time my belly got distended I went in to get it drained again, but that's not what it was, so they did a CT and found that I had a colon blockage. I ended up needing emergency colon surgery because it took so long for the docs to decide to do a CT scan, as they thought it was just a side effect from chemo and the ascites (fluid) filling up. My fluid builds in my body because I have cancer cells floating around in all the fluid and the fluid builds up trying to flush it out....did they test your fluid after doing the parascentecis?. I would suggest asking for a CT scan, and I didn't even leave the room and I knew what was going on, so I'd push for not waiting for results if that's the route you go. Good luck!
    Cathy

    Hi, how are you?

    Hi, how are you?
  • kitten0385
    kitten0385 Member Posts: 248
    #5
    Patteee said:

    Hi, how are you?

    Hi, how are you?

    Hanging in...
    I'm ok, I'm in the hospital right now, trying to get some things figured out and get some pneumonia cleared up. =P We're getting there. :0)
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #6
    kitten0385 said:

    Hanging in...
    I'm ok, I'm in the hospital right now, trying to get some things figured out and get some pneumonia cleared up. =P We're getting there. :0)

    Myy stomnach is always
    Myy stomnach is always bloated and thought it was due to the abscess but I don't have an abscess now, so? My family tells me it's because I don't have a gall bladder and I need to pay attention to what I eat and what makes my stomach extend. I am now starting to do that. But I have a lot of gas when my tummy extends and I do retain water.
  • clier
    clier Member Posts: 29
    #7
    kitten0385 said:

    Fluid
    Hi,
    I post on the esophageal board, but read this board every once in awhile. I have had my belly distended a couple of times, the first time I had parascentecis (sp) done and they drained two liters of fluid. The second time my belly got distended I went in to get it drained again, but that's not what it was, so they did a CT and found that I had a colon blockage. I ended up needing emergency colon surgery because it took so long for the docs to decide to do a CT scan, as they thought it was just a side effect from chemo and the ascites (fluid) filling up. My fluid builds in my body because I have cancer cells floating around in all the fluid and the fluid builds up trying to flush it out....did they test your fluid after doing the parascentecis?. I would suggest asking for a CT scan, and I didn't even leave the room and I knew what was going on, so I'd push for not waiting for results if that's the route you go. Good luck!
    Cathy

    Thanks
    Helpful comments. They tested the fluid after my paracentesis & I meet w/ doc this Wed to find out the results, plus the results of the PET. It would've been earlier - tests results were ready but he was out of town. I am definitely going to press on the matter - it's just not normal & I'm very worried about it. I'll ask about a CT as well. jeez.

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