Fluid Build Up

Hello,

 My sister was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer November 30, 2006.  They were going to remove her stomach but when they went in determined that was not a good option because she had microscopic cells on the lining of her peritoneum.  She did chemo until about August when she could no longer take the treatments.  They did a PET scan and they found no evidence of disease at that time so she got a three month break from chemo!  She actually started feeling pretty good.  Then in November her hemoglobin was down to 7 and she was feeling very bad again.  She had a blood transfusion, which helped for a very short while.  They did a scope and found that the tumor in her stomach had grown significantly and was malignant.  So it was back to chemo.  She did on Dec 5 and again on Dec 12.  Last night she was taken to the ER.  She had passed out and her son found her on the kitchen floor.  Her hemoglobin is down to 8 again and she looks like she is nine months pregnant.  I know the fluid is probably not a good sign.  Does it mean the end is near?  They did an Xray to see if she had a bowel obstruction but don't think she does since she is having bowel movement.  She doesn't even have her colon any more.  That was removed years ago.  Could her small intestine have that much fluid.  They didn't seem to think the fluid was outside the stomach/bowel area.  How do they get it out?  Will it come back?  How much time do we have left?  Anyone with any experience with this, if you could share your experience, that would be great,

 

Thanks,

 

AB

My sister, age 48, also has stage IV stomach cancer.  She was diagnosed in April, 2007.  She has been having fluid buildup for about the last three months.  She gets real uncomfortable with the fluid and it seems that food does not want to stay down when her stomach fills up.  She goes in about once a month for a paracentesis which drains the fluid.  She then feels better and is able to eat and keep food down.  However, I too wonder that this fluid build up cannot be a good sign.  My sister is quite thin, and when she is full of fluid she looks like she is pregnant.  My sister has had nine chemos and is scheduled for her tenth.  The doctors say they will keep going with chemo as long as she tolerates it.  On her last cat scan, it did show some slight shrinkage.  I guess all we can do is hope and pray.