Liver mets with ascites

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited June 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY
Liver mets with ascites
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  • Lillian9545
    Lillian9545 Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2016

    I am stage 4 with bony and liver mets. Recently have delevoped ascites.How have others with ascites doing

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2016

    Lillian9545-

    We want to welcome you to BCO. We're so sorry you find yourself here, but we hope you find this community to be a source of support when you need it most. We want to direct you to our Stage 4 Liver Mets thread, members share stories, insights, advice, and support: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/....

    Sending you good thoughts!

    The Mods

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  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited June 2016

    Hi Lillian9545,

    Welcome to forum 8!

    I have liver mets with ascites. It's a long story that I'm happy to share later.

    There are a few of us and we tend to post at this topic:

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

    You might want to read it to get a sense of who's who and what we're doing for the ascites.

    There are a variety of treatment options - the best is effective cancer treatment that reduces the liver mets and ascites. But there are other measures for dealing with ascites including draining through out-patient paracentesis procedures and an indwelling drain.

    Ascites can be very uncomfortable and my heart goes out to you this morning.

    warmest wishes, Stephanie

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  • Rosevalley
    Rosevalley Member Posts: 3,061
    edited June 2016

    Welcome Lillian- to our exclusive club of bone and liver mets (mine is also in the lung and gut too.) Ascites is uncomfortable. I have had it for a year and an indwelling drain for 10 months. Stephanie in the post above invited you to our forum on the topic. Keep us informed on how you are doing. There are a few of us. Take care!welcome again. rosevalley

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  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited June 2016

    Anyone have any experience with ascites that only came on during the first cycle of chemo (xeloda)? My wife has liver mets. Tumor markers are dropping, yet ascites developed. MRI planned for next week.

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  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited June 2016

    Hi Timothy,

    It sounds unclear whether your wife's ascites are caused by treatment or some undetected disease in region or liver.

    I hope her doctors can solve the problem!

    Ascites can be so very uncomfortable.

    warmest healing wishes, Stephanie

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  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited June 2016

    About two weeks ago the oncologist was sitting on the fence as to whether the ascites was caused by advancing of the cancer, or a reaction to the treatment. Her tumor markers had only fallen a little over 10% over the period of her first two xeloda cycles. So the onc ordered an ultrasound of her liver and further blood tests. The ultrasound showed signs of portal hypertension, but no complete blockage. Then the next blood test results 5 days later showed a further 24.5% drop in her tumour markers since the value 5 days earlier. Her ascites began to slow, we were hopeful as she would go two days without gaining any weight. But now, as we near the end of her third cycle of xeloda, her weight has jumped up 10 pounds over the course of 5 days. Very alarming. She called the onc, he wasn't concerned, and she is going in for a draining on Friday. Thanks for the kind wishes Stephanie.

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  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited June 2016

    Hi Timothy,

    So glad your wife is going to get drained soon through an outpatient paracentesis procedure.

    She should wear a top and pants or skirt, not a dress, otherwise she'll need to undress and gown up at the hospital.

    Here's a short description of what she's facing:

    Basically, an ultrasound wand is used to detect area of greatest fluid retention, then the skin is scrubbed and surrounding tissue numbed with injections of lidocaine. A huge needle is put in (If you're with her, sit down so YOU don't faint) and the fluid is drawn out into vacuum bottles.

    The relief is immediate. This can be done a number of times, but is risky - infection, perforation, lowering of blood pressure, loss of protein/albumin.

    She shouldn't plan on driving home alone as it's an intense procedure, though only local anesthesia is used.

    I have an implanted drain for longer-term ascites, but hopefully treatment will be effective. We can talk about that later, if it comes up as an option.

    I hope this brings her immediate and sustained relief. It really is uncomfortable.

    Warmest healing wishes for both of you, Stephanie

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  • Longtermsurvivor
    Longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,438
    edited June 2016

    Hi Timothy,

    Wishing you and your wife good luck with today's draining.

    It should ease some of her ascites suffering.

    Thought of a couple more tips - she's probably already on it, but just in case...

    Fashion advice - wear loose-fitting, elastic waist pants/skirt and no pantyhose. Hip huggers work well for me, because I lose inches around my waist every morning when I drain just one liter. Plus, binding clothes really increase feelings of fullness, discomfort. I often shiver after draining - from stress or fluid change? - bring a light wrap.

    Food advice - keep in touch with body's needs. Mine is for nausea-quelling foods, sour and salty flavors, not sweet. And LOTS of fluids before and after draining - dehydration is a real problem, especially in hot weather.

    Best healing wishes!

    Sending you light, Stephanie

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  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited June 2016

    Thank you so much Stephanie for your kind and caring words of advice. I really hope Bev gets substantial relief and that the chemo can reduce or eliminate the ascites. We will find out next Tuesday after an MRI whether the treatment is working.

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