Abdominal Distension

Abdominal distension is common in patients with cancer primary from the abdomen or peritoneal metastasis. Abdominal distension will mark you feel full after small meals, resulting in loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and swelling of the ankle and legs.

Possible causes of abdominal distension include:

• Ascites (accumulating of fluid in the abdomen)
• Tumour(s) in the abdominal or pelvic cavity, or in the liver which reduces space for the stomach

Ascites

• Ascites is one of the common causes of abdominal distension. It happens when the fluid produced from body is more tthan being removed due to cancer or other conditions. 
• Ascites develops most often with ovarian, uterine, cervical, colorectal, stomach, pancreatic, breast and liver cancers.

You may have the following tests:

• Physical examination by the doctor
• Ultrasound of the abdomen
• CT scan

• Drainage of the abdominal fluid (Paracentesis)
  • The doctor will place a thin catheter in the abdomen to remove the fluid.
  • You can keep the catheter for future drainage.

• Taking diuretics
  • Diuretics can help reduce the amount of fluid in the body. Potential side effects include insomnia, skin problems, electrolyte disturbances, low blood pressure etc.
• Anti-cancer treatment
  • Ascites can be managed if the anti-cancer treatment can control the disease. For example, chemotherapy can reduce ascites in ovarian cancer.

Dietary and daily habits

• Consume less salt
• Have meals frequently but in small amounts
• Limit water or fluid intake 
• Avoid food that may produce gas (such as beans, onions, potatoes and sweet potatoes) and food that contain coarse fibre (such as bamboo shoots and celery)
• Do exercises and walk more
• Maintain healthy bowel movements 

Smart patient (by Hospital Authority): Abdominal Distension

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO): Ascites

Canadian Cancer Society: Ascites