Excessive water in the belly

After 11session of chemo my tumor has shrunk to a size of pencil eraser from 4.5 cm. my question is: why is my stomach retaining water every 2 weeks. I have been to the dr and had my stomach drained numerous times and the water keeps filling up my stomach and making me uncomfortable. Has anyone experienced this if so please let me know. I have been out of chemo treatments for 3 and a half months. My dr has recommended me to go back to chemo cause the dr feels I still have cancer and my cancer has been in remission Thank You, VIctor

Sounds like you have ascites. My Mom had this for almost a year after her surgery. After an endoscopy the doctor determined it was caused by portal vein occlusion. I know the ascites made her extremely uncomfortable. She was tapped every 10 days at some points and then would go months without being tapped.  

 

Has the fluid been tested for cancer cells? The doctor can tell you if the fluid is malignant which can help point towards the cause.

Thank you for your respond bambi99d My doctor have tested the fluid and is not malignant no cancer cells found there is some fatty on the water, she also check my liver and is normal no cancer cells , Can you tell me how your mom was cured from this experienced and where the the liquid can from? My doctor wants to continue with kemo therapy and I am not sure if I want to continue with this action. 

That’s good news that they weren’t any cancer cells found. Unfortunately my Mom’s ascites was never resolved. She passed away last year. She had the fluid for almost a year. One of the doctors did mention putting in a shunt but she wasn’t strong enough for the surgery. The other option is to put in a drain where you can drain the fluid at home yourself. I also think a large part of her problem was lack of nutrition. She was malnourished which also contributes to the fluid buildup.

 

 I’ve heard of cases where it does resolve itself, so there is a chance that could happen.

 

My mom has had this really bad. She was severely malnourished and has now been doing a better job of taking her digestive enzymes and using her feeding tube. Since the last time they drained her stomach, it has stayed down for about a week now. Her legs were also severely swollen and that has gone down. It sounds horrible, I'm so sorry, hopefully it can be resolved for you.

After speaking with my surgeon regarding this issue he agree that I have a severely malnourished problem , he found that my liquid in my belly is milky and fatty which concluded there is some obstruction in my system, he is not sure why I have this liquid this usually happens after surgery (whipple). Has anyone heard anything like this? , by the way he wants me to gain weight to perform surgery on me, and I am a little worry about surgery. I am schedule to have a PET scan on Monday to see how is the tumor conditions in my pancreas are.

My moms belly is extending could this be liquid on the belly is the liquid painfull

Sorry to hear about your mom, the liquid is not painfull, what is painfull is the more liquid builds up in your belly the other organs get push around and this can be very painful, my doctors are telling me this is due to the weight lost that I have during the chemo treat ment and also was to the malnourishes or not having enough proteins. Please let me know how your mom does.

On Mar 24, 2013 2:22 PM Victorallp wrote:

Sorry to hear about your mom, the liquid is not painfull, what is painfull is the more liquid builds up in your belly the other organs get push around and this can be very painful, my doctors are telling me this is due to the weight lost that I have during the chemo treat ment and also was to the malnourishes or not having enough proteins. Please let me know how your mom does.

 Victora,

It is now day 3 with this belly extented. Called the Ongoligist and she feels its just  from gas with out seeing her. Or a side effect of the chemo. She goes to the infectious control Dr this week and chemo again on Friday. Lets see what they think then.  I just can't take it she has had everyside effect possible from this chemo and no relief from pain.  It is her choice to continue with the chemo but I really don't think there is any quality of life left. So sorry to be so negative because this is usually not how I am but everyday I witness the pain, vomiting, diarehha and not eating and I really don't know what else to do:( so sad.