Distended Abdomen-liver mets

Pam, Luann is right. I have a friend who had that happen and had it drained and she felt so much better.
(((Hugs to you)))
Love,
g

HUGS to you....

Wendy A

yes I believe they did

I have been worried about this also, my abdomen is very distended and I hardly eat anything due to complete loss of appetite. So I know the big belly is not due to overeating. Thanks for asking this question.

I was drained using ultrasound guidance and they got out over 3000 cc...why won't he drain you to give you some relief?

Pam just keep asking questions until you get answers. I can only imagine how frustrated you are. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Take care,
Another Oklahoma Pam

My daughter also has cancer that has metastisized to her liver. Her first complaint was the distended stomach. She said she looked pregnant. If pregnacy were only the issue, we'd be ecstatic.

Pam,
I'm so sorry this happens to you. I thought you were getting water retention on Taxotere, but apparently based on the stories from other ladies here, the ascites probably need to be dealt with differently.

I wonder if you can call the oncologist's office right away instead of waiting for an appointment??

I hope they can solve your problem so you don't have to suffer too long.

Sending you more hugs...

When I got Taxotere by my fourth treatment my stomach was distended a week later and then I started to throw up. I was admitted to the Emergency with and obstructed bowel (this can occur by your 5th Taxotere treatment according to their own label). I read the label after being released from the hospital and went searching on the internet. The fourth TAC chemo treatment was my last one.

Terry

http://products.sanofi-aventis.us/Taxotere/taxotere.html#Patinfo

Fluid Retention – This means that your body is holding extra water. If this fluid retention is in the chest or around the heart it can be life-threatening. If you notice swelling in the feet and legs or a slight weight gain, this may be the first warning sign. Fluid retention usually does not start immediately; but, if it occurs, it may start around your 5th treatment. Generally, fluid retention will go away within weeks or months after your treatments are completed.??Dexamethasone tablets may protect patients from significant fluid retention. It is important that you take this medicine on schedule. If you have not taken dexamethasone on schedule, you must tell your doctor or nurse before receiving your next Taxotere treatment.??Gastrointestinal – Diarrhea has been associated with TAXOTERE use and can be severe in some patients. Nausea and/or vomiting are common in patients receiving TAXOTERE. Severe inflammation of the bowel can also occur in some patients and may be life threatening.


The above article is what I read after getting out of the hospital. I had reacted to Taxotere when I got my first treatment. They CHALLENGED me and gave me more premeds the following day of my reaction. They dripped it in at the first bump, took 3 hours to get..........really threw off their schedule. On my 4th treatment someone decided to just push it through in 1 hour. I was not looking well when my husband picked me up. That week I started to feel nauseated, and one week later on a Sunday evening all hell broke loose. Major projectile throwing up.......lots of fluid....bowls full. When I came back to see my doctor after hospital stays...my husband asked who gave the nurse permission to push the drug through in 1 hour rather than the 3 hours. My oncologist fumbled with my file.....looking like she was trying to find out. She was so guilty.........I think she was either covering for the nurse or she herself gave the OK. My husband must of asked her everytime we went to see her.....until we changed our medical plan....and left KAISER. My hospital stay was the most exhausting ever.....and the constant rotation of doctors, nurses, and cleaning staff was disturbing. Thank God my husband and all of my sisters stayed each day at the hospital and making those nurses get my medicine on time and also question the medicine they were giving me. The whole experience started my POST TRAMATIC STRESS that today I am on Ativan to deal with anxiety from the experience. Not to count just the experience of dealing with surviving day to day with my breast cancer dx. I am not the same person.......everyday it seems I learn of another person getting cancer. Shakes my whole foundation......so I just LOVE my little grandson each day with as much love that I can pour out. He was conceived when I was dx with breast cancer, and he was born in January 2007, the same month I discovered my lump. My sister says GOD new I needed Ethan to help me through this experience.........and everyday I loose myself in his SMILE and his bright blue eyes.

Hope this helps, love you all,
Terry

Wow, Terry, that was really scary. I got my Taxotere while at Kaiser too (in 2004). I didn't like my oncologist at Kaiser, but she was not as bad as yours. I don't think anyone should have to go through that. I'm glad you're now at the hands of better oncologist and better system.

Pam/galnok,
My experience with Taxotere is not as extreme. But my water retention started early, around 2nd week of 1st cycle. My feet were stiff and I had time breathing while walking. I didn't get the diuretic prescription (Lasix) until 3rd cycle. Lasix helped a bit but didn't completely solve the problem.

What saved me from blowing up like a balloon was the decadron/dexamethosone. Every time I got the dex right around treatment, I lost weight and felt better.

After 6 cycles were over, I kept taking Lasix but it wasn't getting rid of the water fast enough. I asked for another round of dexamethosone even if I didn't get Taxotere anymore. That helped a lot.

I'm crossing fingers & toes as well for you Thursday & the result!

Hugs