Ascites and paracentesis

[Medeja]

Hi my mother has last-stage ovarian cancer that developed into carcinomatosis with heavy ascites. Relapse (her cancer was diagnosed in 2015) and ascites appeared a year ago, but for some while, carbo platinum treatment worked. However, due to carbo platinum resistance, her last treatment is cealyx. After the first treatment (on the 5th of August) with this new for her drug, she still is having ascites accumulation heavily and vomiting almost the whole month, and due to that for three weeks she is in the hospital.

A few weeks ago, they inserted a flexible tube that drains the fluid to prevent ascites accumulation in the hospital. Even though my mother is very weak (almost all the time in the bed) and still in hospital, she is determined to take the second cycle of cealyx. And if the blood is good, she will be released from local hospital, to be able to go to another hospital in other cities one hour drive treatment. Our main worry is that the doctor wants to take out the tube befor leaving, what in our opinion might affect her condition due to ascites accumulation (it accumulates now very fast) and to our understanding, another paracentesis might be done only after a few weeks. Maybe someone had a similar experience and maybe can share it? Maybe there is a practice to release patients with this tube inserted? We are not from UK and USA, so there is a lack of normal communication and explanation from doctors, we feel left alone and struggle to find the right decisions ourselves, so any knowledge or simmilar experience would be helpful.

[Lyndy2]

Hello Medeja, I think you are right to ask how this is all going to work if the ascities is building up rapidly. I don’t understand why they can’t deliver the chemo in hospital without moving her, as it seems that would be the most comfortable for her. If she feels ok to go home afterwards could she be sent with a permanent drain?

I was in a similar situation, but mine was fluid in the lungs…they gave me chemo in hospital and only let me leave with drains that I could use myself xx

[Trickysite]

Ask Ovacome or Macmillan. Best wishes, Emma x

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Dear Medeja,

I'm sorry to hear that your mother is having a difficult time with the ascites she's experiencing. I hope you have a chance to discuss the situation with your mother's medical team, as they should be able to explain things and allow you to ask questions.

We are here to support you and your mother, so please do get in touch if you would like to talk things through, or if you'd like some help preparing for a discussion with her team. If you'd like to talk anything through, you can call the Ovacome support line on 0800 008 7054 or email us on [e-mail]. We are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.

We also have a Friends and Family group, which was set up to give people a space to meet others and share your experiences. The next group is 27th September, 2022 at 5:00pm (UK time). You can read more and sign up here: ovacome.org.uk/Event/family...

Best wishes,

Jo- Ovacome Support