Fluid rentention ?

mom2mande · Regular Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 10

My grandfather was diagnosed with cancer in Dec and specifically pancreatic cancer in Jan that had gone to the liver and lungs. He has been doing awesome, chemo is going great(3 weeks on, 1 week of).....he has no ill effects what so ever from the chemo. He has gained weight again and has had more energy then he did last fall before his diagnosis. Now the problem is edema. His hands and legs have swelled a lot. The dr put him on a water pill and nothing so he doubled the water pill along with potassium and when he takes them he notices a difference. But as my grandfather says he just isn't home enough to take them regularly because he is in the bathroom every couple of minutes. I told him he needs to stay home for a week straight and take the water pills. I know that won't happen though lol. He has another CT Scan today and chemo after then we get the results next Tues. Is the fluid retention more than likely being caused by the cancer or the chemo? He was just over for dinner on Sunday and was feeling tired and exhausted but he and my grandma(they) had just gotten back a few days earlier from a long 5 day out of state trip that involved a lot of walking and not much rest. So I am hoping his body is just worn down from that. Not to mention I don't think sitting in a car for hours on end helped any swelling. Oh he did have an u/s on both legs to rule out blood clots and that came back all clear so that is when the dr put him on water pills.

Mrs B. · New User Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

When my father had the same problem, the doctor told him that since the swelling started in his legs, it was probably a side-effect of the chemo. If the swelling had started in his abdomen, it probably would have been from the cancer.
Try to keep him around the house untill the swelling is a lot less. And tell him to keep his legs a little raised. If he gets trouble breathing (or starts coughing) because of fluids around his lungs have him sleep with his upper body slightly elevated. Keep walking and exercising, but also take a lot of rest. And don't sit in a car for hours with your legs down.

Eve

brainman · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:29 am Post subject: Re: Fluid rentention ?

My father had fluid problems prior to his cancer diagnosis. But his cancer only made it worse. Basic reason for his fluid retention was a weak and enlarged heart and kidney insufficiency.

Your grandfather continues in me thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

mom2mande · Regular Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 10

The swelling isn't in his stomach area at all, it's his legs and hands. The dr said the swelling could be from either the cancer or the chemo. Of course we are all praying that it's a side effect of the chemo. He had a bunch of tests done on his kidneys to make sure it wasn't a kidney problem and they checked out fine. He saw the dr again on Tues before his chemo and the dr switched his medicine. Grandpa didn't know what it was, my grandma or him don't ask questions. I think the main problem is my grandpa doesn't sit still long enough to take the water pills for a week straight. He takes one here and there but at this point he refuses to slow down and is always on the go. As my grandma says, "we can't take away things he loves to do". 5 more days until we get the results from the CT Scan. We are just so thankful that in 6 months he has been pain free and not had to take 1 pain pill and the edema is just a small bump in the road.

suoiruc · Regular Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 15

mom2mande,
That's great your grandpa is doing so well with the chemo. Can I ask what drugs they're treating him with?
suoiruc

mom2mande · Regular Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 10

I asked my grandma when he first started chemo what the name of the chemo was and she didn't know. She just said she thinks it started with a G and it's the same drug that is used to treat advanced ovarian cancer. Sometimes I wish someone would go with them weekly to the chemo appts and ask the questions for them.

brainman · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: Fluid rentention ?

mom2mande, if you ask, your grandfather can tell his medical team to release his medical information to you. It is not the same as talking directly to his doctor since you cannot ask questions, but it is better than nothing.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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