Malignant ascites - does it always return?

[EchoUK]

My only symptom of OVCA (Stage 3c) was what turned out to be malignant ascites and over 4/5 months from June '06 I had 8.5 ltrs, 11.5 ltrs, 7.5 ltrs, 4.5 ltrs and 2.0 ltrs drained off -
the last time being the beginnimg of November.

I had chemotherapy from July until January then debulking operation followed by one more chemo and another to come next week making eight so far.  I have been lucky enough to feel pretty well all through although I had to stop the Taxol and continue with Carboplatin alone as I had a severe reaction on the second chemo treatment.

After the next chemo there will be a discussion regarding the next step.
As far as I can tell the chemo has dried up most if not all the ascites during treatment.

Has anyone here had a similar pattern - did the ascites return during or after chemo and if so how soon? I understand that malignant ascites is not curable especially if as copious as mine has been.

[EchoUK]

Thankyou all fro responding - it doesn't seem easy to get much information regarding malignant ascites.

tmathis -  Did your wife have any chemo prior to surgery? I had six rounds and the ascites seemed to have stopped by round four.

Kimchi -  I had some indigestion due to the ascites which caused 'burping' but no other symptoms. At present I am 'burping' occasionally after eating but I do wonder if it became a habit!  My concern is that I am putting on weight and I don't know if it is lack of exercise and over eating  due to the cold weather.
I try to cut down but then get really hungry.  I did used to notice a gurgling noise with the ascites when getting in or out of bed also I can tell from the different sound when I tap my abdomin where there is fluid and of course when there is a lot there the discomfort leaves you in no doubt. However there should be some fluid present in anyone as it lubricates the organs.

milashka - You had only a small amount of ascites originally anyway so it probably wasn't so much of an issue.  Glad you report is looking good.

[milashka]

Unfortunately, I was unable to ask my oncologist about the ascites issue, because he said in my case - at this time - there is nothing to worry about. Everyone produces 1 l of fluid a day and it drains away, so maybe not all of it drained away for me, at any rate, it is unchanged from 6 months ago and so minimal an amount that the other radiologist either didn't see it or thought it normal/insignifant. My CT scan looks just great he says.

I dodged the bullet so to speak.

I still wish I had asked him more about the fluid but we had so much do discuss that we got sidetracked.

[Kimchi]

I just finished my 6 cycle of carbo/taxol but a week before I noticed that I have been burbing a lot more than usual and 2 days after the last cycle, I developed diarhea...These two problems were symptoms thatstarted 10 months before being dx and got progressely worse till my hysto. stage 4 OC.  Now I am worried that I also have fluid in my abdomen again...Scheduled for a CT in April both abdomen and lungs...does anyone have or had these problems during chemo??

[EchoUK]

Amaris -

As I said as far as I can tell the chemo has dried up most if not all the ascites during treatment - I have one more Carboplatin to go then a check up to see what next.  I don't THINK there is any more ascites present but it is difficult to tell until it starts to cause discomfort!  The doctors did a physical check last month but I expect to have a CT scan after the next chemo.
I feel very well - eating too much and sleeping well. Working as normal really.
The only problem I have had so far with Carboplatin is constipation for a few days after treatment as either the chemo or the steroid pills and anti nausea pills they give for a short course after make me pass water much more than usual including having to get up in the night!! I can live with that though:)

Milashka -

I would like to know more about the future prognosis regarding the ascites and whether the chemotherapy has any effect on the actual fluid or only on the particles it deposits. I keep forgetting to ask. Also how to tell if it is coming back before it gets copious.  I know that by 'tapping' my abdomen there is a different sound when ascites is present but I have also been told that there should always be some fluid present in the abdomen as it contains - can't remember now - was it proteins?

The last drain I had was early November but there was very little there. I thought there was more but the ultra sound check couldn't find any.
Look forward to reading what you find out.

[tmathis]

My wife had 4 liters drained and then 3 liters more before beginning chemo. The chemo seemed to dry up the ascites. They have come back to her for a 3rd time. The ascites tend to return each time that the chemo stops working.

[milashka]

I had stage 3c surgery 11/05 when they also removed 1.5 l of malignant ascites. 6 rounds of chemo, ending 3/06. No more ascites since surgery...or so it seemed.

I just had my 3rd CT scan since 3/06; all is still clean except there is a "tiny amount of fluid" unchanged from CT scan of 9/06. Ironically, the report from 9/06 said that there was no fluid (it specifically said so).

So I am trying to find out if my ascites is returning, will talk to the oncologist Thursday. I have always heard as well that ascites comes back. I will ask him about it and let you know what he says.

[Amaris]

Hello, I don't speak from personal experience, but my mom had Ovarian cancer stage III and that was her first symptom as well. My mom was very tiny & petite and it looked like she was about 6 month pregnant. The doctor first told her she needed to see a gastro doctor because he felt something was wrong with her intestines. We had to take her to the emergency room before she ever went to see that doctor because the swelling was making it really hard for her to breath because of the pressure on her lungs. She had to get her stomach drained once or twice a week before her surgery and after, even through chemo. So I'm assuming it's not uncommon for that to occur. She was diagnosed in June 2006 and passed away in January of this year. Everything was looking really good & then the tumors came back, they determined she had a very rare form of ovarian cancer called mmmt.
How are your treatments going? Has the ascities slowed down since you've began chemo? Have they done any further ultrasounds or catscans? I've just learned from my experience not to be afraid to ask the doctors questions and if I feel like something doesn't add up to request further testing just to be on the safe side. I hope that the ascities does go away, I know it can sometimes be an even bigger pain than going through the chemo.
Amaris :)