abdominal bloating

LOUSWIFT
LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Just a quick background...I am being treated for reoccurrence of colon cancer. The tumor was removed Aug 30, 2010 low agressive just like the last one four years prior. But this time three localized nodes involved. No apparent spread. I have been on folfox for 7 treatments and every treatment brings a new discovery in bad side effects but I must admit after #7 a new more perplexing problem. I have had a bloated hard abdomen with some localized pain in the area where they removed the last tumor. Also a lot of gas and perhaps for the first time some constipation which I corrected with stool softener. The bloating has not gone away in my break between treatments and I am coming up on #8 on MOnday the 24th. In all my adventures with folfox whatever bad came my way usually disappeared after 5-8 days (except for the hand cold sensitivity). This bloating has not! Of course I am worried about a tumor re-developing where they removed the last one since the pain is in the same area. But my CEA has been a good indicator for cancer for me and it has remianed less than 1. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks Lou

Comments

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #2
    Lou -

    Re:
    "Of course I am worried about a tumor re-developing where they
    removed the last one since the pain is in the same area"

    Lou.. Relax, willya? A tumor isn't grow big enough to give you pain
    that fast. They were just in there, right? They didn't find anything else,
    so go with that.

    Adhesions form quickly and take years to grow, but there can
    be times that things stick together and pull, causing pain.

    The bloating and gas does sound like a partial obstruction,
    and the physician or surgeon should be notified. I wouldn't
    continue to self-treat the condition without the physician's advice.

    Be well!

    John
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    John23 said:

    Lou -

    Re:
    "Of course I am worried about a tumor re-developing where they
    removed the last one since the pain is in the same area"

    Lou.. Relax, willya? A tumor isn't grow big enough to give you pain
    that fast. They were just in there, right? They didn't find anything else,
    so go with that.

    Adhesions form quickly and take years to grow, but there can
    be times that things stick together and pull, causing pain.

    The bloating and gas does sound like a partial obstruction,
    and the physician or surgeon should be notified. I wouldn't
    continue to self-treat the condition without the physician's advice.

    Be well!

    John

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #4
    bloating
    If you have fluid in your abdomen, it can cause constipation as well, as the fluid stops everything from being able to move. An ultrasound can easily determine if there is fluid and the draining of said fluid is a simple procedure. Ask your onc about it on Monday
    mary
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #5
    John23 said:

    Lou -

    Re:
    "Of course I am worried about a tumor re-developing where they
    removed the last one since the pain is in the same area"

    Lou.. Relax, willya? A tumor isn't grow big enough to give you pain
    that fast. They were just in there, right? They didn't find anything else,
    so go with that.

    Adhesions form quickly and take years to grow, but there can
    be times that things stick together and pull, causing pain.

    The bloating and gas does sound like a partial obstruction,
    and the physician or surgeon should be notified. I wouldn't
    continue to self-treat the condition without the physician's advice.

    Be well!

    John

    Thanks
    John are you scolding me? Just kidding... I'm not self treating this condition just started about eight days ago and unlike other side effects that have developed over the last several months this is a new wrinkle and thus my concern. No, I don't actually think it's a tumor even if the margins were not large enough my cancers have always been low grade slow grow and takes years to gain size. My surgery back in August took three hours to remove the tumor and three additional hours to take care of all the adhesions. I have a decision to make after tomorrow about quitting at eight folfox treatments or try to do the twelve so I want as much information I can get before I decide in about two weeks. I do see my ONC tomorrow and we will discuss this. Thanks again Lou
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #6
    LOUSWIFT said:

    Thanks
    John are you scolding me? Just kidding... I'm not self treating this condition just started about eight days ago and unlike other side effects that have developed over the last several months this is a new wrinkle and thus my concern. No, I don't actually think it's a tumor even if the margins were not large enough my cancers have always been low grade slow grow and takes years to gain size. My surgery back in August took three hours to remove the tumor and three additional hours to take care of all the adhesions. I have a decision to make after tomorrow about quitting at eight folfox treatments or try to do the twelve so I want as much information I can get before I decide in about two weeks. I do see my ONC tomorrow and we will discuss this. Thanks again Lou

    Lou
    I have no idea what is going on with you. But after you meet with your onc tomorrow, would you let us know what he says? Just concerned.
    Winter Marie
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #7
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Good to hear
    Hi Graci
    I too have lost a lot of weight about about 75 pounds. I would like to lose about another 10. I was hoping my hard abdomen would just expose my hard "six-pack" that was covered in blubber now gone but no! Since the winters in Michigan can be brutal with my hands I don't go out much so public gas isn't a problem. It's good to hear someone else has dealt with this crazy thing too. This isn't from my surgery since that ocurred over five months ago. I was thinking it is Folfox playing side effect surprise roulette again but who knows? I feel great today just hours from another dose of Folfox. The abdomen is still hard but that's about it. I will talk to my ONC and more importantly his PA since she is so much smarter than he. Thanks for your help. hugs Lou
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #8
    msccolon said:

    bloating
    If you have fluid in your abdomen, it can cause constipation as well, as the fluid stops everything from being able to move. An ultrasound can easily determine if there is fluid and the draining of said fluid is a simple procedure. Ask your onc about it on Monday
    mary

    fluid
    Hi Mary


    It's funny about the fluids. There were times that I would hear fluid flowing through my colon from one side to the other. It makes be nervous when anyone says simple procedure somehow I whine up bent over with my elbows on a table and not smiling! But I will talk about it with my ONC. Hugs Lou
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #9
    herdizziness said:

    Lou
    I have no idea what is going on with you. But after you meet with your onc tomorrow, would you let us know what he says? Just concerned.
    Winter Marie

    Sure
    I hope I get some answers and I will let you know! hugs Lou
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #10
    LOUSWIFT said:

    fluid
    Hi Mary


    It's funny about the fluids. There were times that I would hear fluid flowing through my colon from one side to the other. It makes be nervous when anyone says simple procedure somehow I whine up bent over with my elbows on a table and not smiling! But I will talk about it with my ONC. Hugs Lou

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #11
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    yes, SOMETHING is causing the fluid build up
    In my case, it was the tumor growing on my right ovary, usually it's tumor growth, sometimes it's something to do with the liver. Certainly the desire is to find the cause and stop it by addressing the original cause of the build up. In the meantime, managing the fluid can go a long way towards providing some comfort!
    mary
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #12
    msccolon said:

    yes, SOMETHING is causing the fluid build up
    In my case, it was the tumor growing on my right ovary, usually it's tumor growth, sometimes it's something to do with the liver. Certainly the desire is to find the cause and stop it by addressing the original cause of the build up. In the meantime, managing the fluid can go a long way towards providing some comfort!
    mary

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #13
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    ascites resolved
    it resolved itself when the ovary tumor and everything else was removed during surgery back in June 2006. None of my recurrences since have produced anymore ascites.
    mary
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #14
    msccolon said:

    ascites resolved
    it resolved itself when the ovary tumor and everything else was removed during surgery back in June 2006. None of my recurrences since have produced anymore ascites.
    mary

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #15
    LOU?
    What did the onc say????
    Winter Marie
  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #16
    herdizziness said:

    LOU?
    What did the onc say????
    Winter Marie

    ONC
    He pushed and pulled a bit on the abdomen which was now not as hard and said I needed to take a stool softener everyday. He then lower my OXI by 10% not because of my abdomen but because he is starting to worry about permanent damage due to the chemo. It appears to have worked somewhat since my abdomen is not always as hard. He said my dose of chemo was more than the norm becuase I am a "big guy" 601/220 and thus it will hit me harder. Going to get disconnected today and feeling nausea but okay. Tomorrow is Thursday and I hate the Thursday after being unplugged. It always a bad day followed by a week of beng sick. Well what can one do...four more folfox to go. Hugs Lou
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #17
    LOUSWIFT said:

    ONC
    He pushed and pulled a bit on the abdomen which was now not as hard and said I needed to take a stool softener everyday. He then lower my OXI by 10% not because of my abdomen but because he is starting to worry about permanent damage due to the chemo. It appears to have worked somewhat since my abdomen is not always as hard. He said my dose of chemo was more than the norm becuase I am a "big guy" 601/220 and thus it will hit me harder. Going to get disconnected today and feeling nausea but okay. Tomorrow is Thursday and I hate the Thursday after being unplugged. It always a bad day followed by a week of beng sick. Well what can one do...four more folfox to go. Hugs Lou

    Lou
    Glad it was just a case of needing stool softener. Make sure you take them.
    Hope you feel better quicker then a whole week.
    Winter Marie
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #18
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    sorry for the confusion
    I haven't been posting lately and it's my fault for your confusion. I don't think I have my full story posted. I was initially diagnosed in 2004, recurrence in 2006 on my right ovary, recurrance in 2008/2009 throughout my abdomen. Currently I am dealing with a recurrence on my rectum, in the ascending colon, various lymph nodes, and most recently a few new spots on my liver. I am now scheduled for stereotactic radiosurgery (Cyberknife is one brand, mine is Synergy S) to be done beginning next week with the dry run. I had ascites with the recurrence in 2006, but it completely stopped after the surgical removal of the tumor, a full hysterectomy and various other body parts. The tumor in my rectum is causing a lot of pain, so this stereotactic radiosurgery is expected to give me some relief on that front. I hope this clears things up!
    mary

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