Sometimes ovarian cancer can cause fluid to build up in different parts of the body.
Learn more about:
Ascites
This is when fluid collects in the abdomen. It causes swelling and pressure, which can be uncomfortable and make you feel breathless.
If you have ascites, your doctor may inject a local anaesthetic into the abdomen and then insert a needle to take a sample of the fluid. This is called a paracentesis or ascitic tap. The fluid sample is sent to a laboratory to be examined under a microscope for cancer cells.
Sometimes, to make you feel more comfortable, the doctor will remove all the remaining fluid from your abdomen. If there is a lot of fluid, it may take a few hours for the fluid to drain into a drainage bag, and then the tube will be removed from your abdomen.
Pleural effusion
If the cancer has spread to the lungs, fluid builds up in the area between the lung and the chest wall (pleural space).
It can cause pain and breathlessness. The fluid can be drained using a procedure called a thoracentesis or pleural tap. Your doctor will inject a local anaesthetic into the chest area, and then insert a needle into the pleural space to drain the fluid.
→ READ MORE: Managing lymphoedema
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Dr Antonia Jones, Gynaecological Oncologist, The Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women, VIC; Dr George Au-Yeung, Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Centre, VIC; Dr David Chang, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Prof Anna DeFazio AM, Sydney West Chair of Translational Cancer Research, The University of Sydney, Director, Centre for Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and Director, Sydney Cancer Partners, NSW; Ian Dennis. Consumer (Carer); A/Prof Simon Hyde, Head of Gynaecological Oncology, Mercy Hospital for Women, VIC; Carmel McCarthy, Consumer; Quintina Reyes, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Gynaecological Oncology, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Deb Roffe, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA.
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