Fluid build-up
Sometimes ovarian cancer can cause fluid to build up in the body.
Ascites
This is when fluid collects in the abdomen. It causes swelling and pressure, which can be uncomfortable and make you feel breathless. Your doctor will inject a local anaesthetic into the abdomen and then insert a needle to take a sample of the fluid. This is called paracentesis or ascitic tap. The fluid sample is sent to a laboratory to be examined for cancer cells.
Sometimes, to make you feel more comfortable, the doctor will remove the remaining fluid from your abdomen. It will take a few hours for all the fluid to drain into a drainage bag.
Pleural effusion
For some women, fluid may build up in the area between the lung and the chest wall (pleural space), which can cause pain and breathlessness. The fluid can be drained using a procedure called thoracentesis or pleural tap. You will have a local anaesthetic and a needle will be inserted into the pleural space to drain the fluid.
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This information was last reviewed in April 2018
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