Ascetis

[COHEN123]

Hi everyone, I have stage 4a recurrent peritoneal cancer. I started with ovarian 2.5 years ago, had debulking surgery then 3 different rounds of chemo as the cancer has returned pretty quickly every time. I have had a long 5 month break which has been great. It has returned again and I start chemo again next week thank heavens. However I have had a slow build up of fluid on my abdomen which is now very uncomfortable. I am hoping they are going to drain it in hospital tomorrow. Has anyone any advice on this as I know it's relatively common. Does chemo help stop the build up?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Sue

[Cheadle]

I had ascites during my most recent relapses. Not high volume but enough to be increasingly aware of it, clothes felt tighter, appetite reduced, weight gain, general discomfort. On both occasions, the chemo knocked it back quickly, I would say noticeable relief within the first couple of weeks.

[COHEN123 in reply to Cheadle]

Thanks for that, its it's good to hear chemo helped.Mine is pretty high volume I think but they're going to decide tomorrow

[Eriksendi]

I was drained in hospital before my first chemo. It was a relatively straight forward procedure for me and certainly eased the discomfort. Chemo dried mine up and I didn’t need to have a second drain.

[COHEN123 in reply to Eriksendi]

Oh thanks that's helpful. I'm hoping they'll drain me today. I start chemo again tomorrow as well, so hopefully that will do it. Sue

[Beatyourself]

Sorry to hear you have to struggle through this. I had ascites at diagnosis and were cleared immediately by taxol / carbo chemo. At the time of recurrence I also had a lot of ascites and they had to drain it. It was a great relief. I had 6,3 l drained. I started with caelyx/carbo chemo but meanwhile ascites built up again so had to go for second drain of another 3l. Luckily no more ascites were built after so chemo worked luckily 🙏 good luck with your treatment.

[COHEN123 in reply to Beatyourself]

Thanks. I'm just about to have a drain put in which will be a relief. I start chemo again tomorrow so that will help too by the sound of it. It is always one thing after another isn't it, but luckily we get good help and are determined to keep going

[Beatyourself in reply to COHEN123]

That is right, main thing there are modes to help us out ! Hope you will have a smooth and mainly effective treatments! Best wishes 🙏💚

[DMP-H]

I had a whopping 8 litres drained and then had a drain fitted so I could continue to be drained over the following months. But by dose 4 of my chemotherapy I was able to have the drain removed as the chemo hit it on the head. The volume of fluid the nurses were draining was decreasing each time which gave me an early indication that the chemo was working, before the scans confirmed it.

Good luck! Ascites is horrible- I looked 8 months pregnant and could barely walk before I finally had a drain done, but the relief of that first drain was an incredible feeling!

[COHEN123 in reply to DMP-H]

Oh that's good to hear. I'm currently sat waiting to have it drained ! I start chemo again tomorrow so hopefully that should do it.