Edema

Hi Sal41.

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to our online community. My name is Sherrye and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

I can see you’ve joined the Family and friend’s forum; I hope you are finding it a helpful and support place.

I’m sorry to hear your mother-in-law is experiencing ascites due to advanced cancer. I understand that she had the fluid drained but was discharged with no aftercare details and the fluid is building up again in her stomach and legs, which are now leaking.

With any new, changing, or worsening symptom such as ascites at Macmillan Cancer Support, we’d always recommend reporting this to a medical professional for a review and treatment.

I understand she’s reluctant to contact her GP, but she can ask to see another in that practice if she prefers. Alternatively, she can contact her hospital team via her clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or her consultant's secretary.

It might be helpful to know that you can contact your Mums GP without her permission. They won't be able to go through her diagnosis due to data protection, but it would be a good idea to let them know your concerns.

In some cases when ascites keeps building up a long-term drain may be offered, your mother-in-law will be taught how to look after it and will be supported by the community nurses.

I hope this information helps. Please feel free to get back in touch if you want more information or support.

Best wishes,

Sherrye H,

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm), send us an email or contact us through webchat.

Ref SH/SMc

Thank you so much for your response Sherrye. I really appreciate this and just want to make sure we can do everything in our power to control what we are able to.  We are going to follow up with your advice today. 

I’m so glad I got in touch.

Kind regards,

L