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continuing ascites/fluid after ovarian cancer
We are looking for ways to help the abdominal fluid (aka ascites) dry up for my mom. Does anyone have suggestions of doctors or practitioners we could consult?
She was dx-OC IIIC-in Feb 2010, had 7 hour debulking surgery immediately (removed all female organs, appendix, colon re-section, peritonium, omentum, all abdominal lymph nodes), then a clinical trial with Cysplatin, Taxol, Avastin (IP and IV). Today they are saying she is cancer free. CA-125 went from over 2,000, now around 31. She has weekly check-ins with her Onco. and also her Onc/Gyn/Surgeon. All is well, except for the lingering ascites (non-malignant, no cancer cells present) and stomach discomfort/sometimes pain, to the point where she has yet to gain back all her weight. She is normally a petite 115, went down as low as 79 lbs, now hovering around 99. She goes weekly to have a paracentesis - average amount drained is 2.5 L, although this week, after starting on a water pill, it was less than usual. Her onco. doesn't have anything new to add. her liver and all other organs are watched and seem fine. Labs and CT scans done regularly to check for reoccurrence. We are puzzled. She had to stop the clinical trial early (June) because the chemo cocktail was making her so sick. The good news, it killed the cancer before it killed her, although there were some extremely close calls over the summer months. The IP port was particularly troublesome for her. She developed a hernia in that area and it eventually became infected, causing fluid to be present constantly there. It was removed, finally. She still has the IV port since it hasn't been a year yet. My mom tested positive for the BRCA 2 mutated gene. No prior history of ovarian cancer or any other type of "big" cancer like this. I think she's still in shock, but she is getting stronger and healthier otherwise.
She was dx-OC IIIC-in Feb 2010, had 7 hour debulking surgery immediately (removed all female organs, appendix, colon re-section, peritonium, omentum, all abdominal lymph nodes), then a clinical trial with Cysplatin, Taxol, Avastin (IP and IV). Today they are saying she is cancer free. CA-125 went from over 2,000, now around 31. She has weekly check-ins with her Onco. and also her Onc/Gyn/Surgeon. All is well, except for the lingering ascites (non-malignant, no cancer cells present) and stomach discomfort/sometimes pain, to the point where she has yet to gain back all her weight. She is normally a petite 115, went down as low as 79 lbs, now hovering around 99. She goes weekly to have a paracentesis - average amount drained is 2.5 L, although this week, after starting on a water pill, it was less than usual. Her onco. doesn't have anything new to add. her liver and all other organs are watched and seem fine. Labs and CT scans done regularly to check for reoccurrence. We are puzzled. She had to stop the clinical trial early (June) because the chemo cocktail was making her so sick. The good news, it killed the cancer before it killed her, although there were some extremely close calls over the summer months. The IP port was particularly troublesome for her. She developed a hernia in that area and it eventually became infected, causing fluid to be present constantly there. It was removed, finally. She still has the IV port since it hasn't been a year yet. My mom tested positive for the BRCA 2 mutated gene. No prior history of ovarian cancer or any other type of "big" cancer like this. I think she's still in shock, but she is getting stronger and healthier otherwise.
Ascities is an infection - did they give her any antiobiotics. If not she should
be getting that. I see she has the fluid drained - that usually is a procedure done in the hospital. I am not sure why she has the water pill.
I dont think that would help her except to lose the weight. Make sure that
her port is flushed every few weeks because you can get an infection there too. Glad to here she is cancer free on the clinical trial. I will be starting the avastin drug soon too - hope it works to kill the cancer in me as well.
Take vitamins D, B complex - told helps with the cancer. Make sure she eats to build up her weight - taste often is off when chemo drugs so give her whatever she wants to eat.
be getting that. I see she has the fluid drained - that usually is a procedure done in the hospital. I am not sure why she has the water pill.
I dont think that would help her except to lose the weight. Make sure that
her port is flushed every few weeks because you can get an infection there too. Glad to here she is cancer free on the clinical trial. I will be starting the avastin drug soon too - hope it works to kill the cancer in me as well.
Take vitamins D, B complex - told helps with the cancer. Make sure she eats to build up her weight - taste often is off when chemo drugs so give her whatever she wants to eat.
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