Ascites Relief?

My sister is a nine year survivor of ovarian cancer. Since February, she's been coping with a lot of ascites. A regimen of Cytoxin and Avastin really helped clear it up over the winter and spring. She's currently in between treatments (we see her OBGYN Oncologist on Wednesday to take our next step in treatment). Is there anything we can do to help relieve the ascites at home? It's so uncomfortable for her. She get "drained" when it becomes too painful, but it seems she never really gets complete relief from it.

Thanks!
ErikQ

I was reading on-line and when I saw this I remembered your question.  I sure can't speak to it though, just passing it along...

A peritoneo-venous shunt may be created in patients suffering from ascites who are in relatively good condition. Placement of a shunt can prevent repeated punctures and their associated risks mentioned above. Commonly used shunts include the LeVeen and Denver shunts which direct fluid from the abdominal cavity into the vena cava. A unidirectional valve ensures that the ascites can only flow from the peritoneum into the vein. Shunting alleviates symptoms in 70% of patients treated but has associated risks, too. Among these are shunt obstruction, sepsis, coagulatory dysfunction and spreading of tumour cells from the abdominal cavity. For patients suffering from gastrointestinal tumours a peritoneo-venous shunt is not an option, as those patients generally have a very unfavourable prognosis and the risks of the intervention would thus exceed its benefits.

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On 7/20/2009 ErikQ wrote:

My sister is a nine year survivor of ovarian cancer. Since February, she's been coping with a lot of ascites. A regimen of Cytoxin and Avastin really helped clear it up over the winter and spring. She's currently in between treatments (we see her OBGYN Oncologist on Wednesday to take our next step in treatment). Is there anything we can do to help relieve the ascites at home? It's so uncomfortable for her. She get "drained" when it becomes too painful, but it seems she never really gets complete relief from it.
Thanks!
ErikQ

Hi, I can really sympathise with your sister. And she seems to be doing so well overall. I also am an ovarian cancer sufferer. It has metastasised to my peritoneum, causing the ascites you speak of. I was having 7-8 litres of fluid drained every 2weeks. This isnt sustainable as you lose so much protein and nutrients in the fluid thats removed. I had the le veen shunt fitted in January this year and it has helped alot. Its not a big operation and it improves your quality of life considerably. There is only 1 consultant in NorthWest England who specialises in this treatment. I asked him about the risks of spreading the cancer further, he said that in 15years of carrying out this procedure there have been no cases of this happening. As with everything with this disease you have to weigh up the risks against the benefits. But i do know the discomfort, pain and misery that ascites causes and there's desperate little info about it on the internet. The shunt has improved my quality of life and I would recommend it. I hope this helps.

Much love to you and your sister x x