ABDOMINAL SWELLING (BLOATING) – DESCRIPTION

Posted by admin on May 18, 2009 under Cancer | Be the First to Comment

Swelling of your abdomen means there is something extra there that is not normally present. This can be either fluid, gas, or large cancer growths.

If fluid is the cause of the swelling, it is usually lying within the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneum is a fine double membrane that lines our abdominal cavity. Fluid can form between the two layers of this membrane (the peritoneal cavity) for example, when cancer cells start growing on it. This fluid is called ascites. Ascites can also be caused by liver diseases — both cancer and some noncancerous conditions.

Severe bloating due to wind can develop when the bowel is partly or completely blocked. Abdominal swelling can also be due to cancer itself — perhaps greatly enlarging your liver, spleen, or kidney(s).

If your swelling is due to fluid, the resulting discomfort, lack of appetite, nausea and indigestion can usually be quickly and simply relieved by draining the fluid away. This can be done under a local anaesthetic through a plastic tube inserted through the abdominal wall. Unfortunately, the relief will be temporary unless something is done to stop the fluid from forming again. Reducing your salt intake and taking tablets to help you pass urine (diuretics) may help. Treating the responsible cancer itself, say with chemo^ therapy, may be an attractive possibility if you have a type of cancer which has a good chance of responding favourably to chemotherapy.

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