17. Fluid in the Abdomen (Ascites)
When more than 25 milliliters (0.850 ounces) of fluid builds up in the abdominal cavity, it is known as ascites. Ascites usually comes as a result of liver damage, a late stage complication of pancreatic cancer due to metastasis or spread. When the liver fails to function properly due to cancer cell infiltration coming from the pancreas, fluid from surrounding tissue leaks into the peritoneum, the space between the abdominal wall and the organs. Ascites is a grave sign, with only half of patients who have the condition surviving past 2 years according to the 2010 clinical guidelines published in the Journal of Hepatology.
Symptoms of ascites include:
- A distended, or swollen abdomen
- Sudden weight gain
- Difficulty breathing when on your back
- Anorexia or loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- heartburn
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