Any advice on ascitis?

[mosmers]

Hi,

My mom was diagnosed with OC at the end of 2016. Had full hysterectomy and chemo and was NED till February of 2018. She received a round of treatments and was cancer free for a few month till November. As she became allergic to Carbo Taxol. she was administered Gemzar, which didn't help and is now on Avastin. Her CA125 were pretty high and seem to be going down slowly but her ascitis doesn't seem to get any better. Does anyone here have experience with ascitis and its treatment? She had it drained once and felt a great relief but it keeps accumulating making it very uncomfortable for her.

Thanks so much in advance!

[Beachperson]

I had a standing appointment once a week to have the drainage done. Perhaps she can get the doctor to approve the procedure ahead of time so she can make appointments as needed.

Hopefully it will go down as the avastin continues

[mosmers in reply to Beachperson]

Thank you for the advise! Her Dr.'s strategy is to reduce ascitis via chemo treatments but chemo doesn't seem to helping it all that much. I read that draining the fluid is not advisable as it can cause complication but so does chemo. It comes down to choosing the lesser evil I guess. Thanks again!

[Beachperson in reply to mosmers]

Definitely go the long term chemo route. I just did drainage until the chemo stopped in and it went away.

[Steitlk]

I had ascites despite chemo and had to be drained weekly, then every 2 weeks, then every three weeks, then stopped as soon as the ca125 got down in the 200-300s. The pressure from the ascites caused an umbilical hernia so the doctor temporarily stopped chemo for a couple months to get it repaired. I’m 3 weeks out of that surgery. It is extremely uncomfortable so get it drained til the chemo does it’s thing

[mosmers in reply to Steitlk]

Thanks so much! I will relay the message to my mom. She is just worried that fluid keep building up despite all the chemo treatments she's been through. Wishing you a speedy recovery from your recent surgery!