The following suggestions may help reduce swelling and relieve symptoms:
- Ask your doctor about prescription diuretics. These medicines help get rid of extra fluid from the body by increasing urination.
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Lower the amount of salt in your diet.
- Walk or do other exercises, which helps pump fluids back to your heart.
- Raise the affected area when sitting or lying down.
- Avoid standing for long periods or sitting with your legs crossed.
- Wear compression stockings or elastic sleeves to help push fluids back into your circulation system.
- Do not reduce the amount of water or other fluids you drink without talking to your doctor.
- Talk with your doctor about whether physical therapy or occupational therapy may be helpful.
What are the causes of cancer-related swelling?
Chemotherapy-related, or cancer swelling: 1 Some chemotherapy drugs can cause fluid retention in the body. This form of cancer swelling is most noticeable in the... 2 Swelling or angioedema may also occur with hives as part of an allergic reaction. It is a vascular reaction that causes... More ...
What should I do if my legs swell with cancer?
Feet and lower legs get larger (swell), usually when you sit in a chair, stand, or walk Limit your salt intake. Avoid using salt in cooking, and don’t eat foods that are very high in sodium (check food labels). Talk with your cancer team about this. Eat as well as you can (see Eating Problems ). Take medicines as prescribed.
Should you swell or shrink a cancer tumor?
When the size of a tumor is critical, it can be assumed you do not want to swell the tumor any more than it has already swollen. Most alternative cancer treatments will cause a tumor to swell temporarily, then it may start to shrink.
How can I manage edema caused by cancer?
Relieving side effects is an important part of cancer care and treatment. This is called palliative care or supportive care. Talk with your health care team about any symptoms you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms. Managing edema focuses on treating the underlying cause of fluid buildup.
What is the name of the swelling caused by cancer?
Swelling, Edema, and Ascites. Cancer and its treatment may cause swelling which also can be called edema or ascites, depending on the area affected.
What to do when a patient has a swollen face?
Watch for any new symptoms, especially shortness of breath or swelling in the face. Encourage the patient to keep the swollen body part propped up as high as is comfortable when sitting or lying down.
What is the treatment for ascites?
Sometimes chemotherapy or surgery might help manage ascites . More often, a procedure is done to drain the fluid, called a paracentesis. A paracentesis gives temporary relief ...
What is it called when you have a swollen lymph node?
Swelling that happens because lymph nodes are blocked or removed causes lymph flow to be impaired. This is called lymphedema. Some medications, like diuretics, can help edema. Diuretics are often called water pills.
How to help swollen feet?
If your feet or legs are swollen, rest in bed with them up on 2 pillows.
How to prevent cancer from eating?
Limit your salt intake. Avoid using salt in cooking, and don’t eat foods that are very high in sodium ( check food labels). Talk with your cancer team about this.
Can diuretics cause edema?
But diuretics can have possible dangerous side effects. Talk to your doctor to learn more about this if you are prescribed diuretics for swelling or edema.
What is the best medicine for swelling?
Depending upon the causes of your swelling, your doctor or health care provider may prescribe a diuretic. Diuretics - may be known as "water pills" as they work by making you urinate out extra fluid. Some examples of this medication may include furosemide (Lasix), and Hydrochlorothiazide.
What to wear for swelling?
If your swelling is severe, consider wearing Jobst stockings or TED hose.
What causes swelling in the mouth and lips?
The fluid retention causes swelling generally in the tongue, lips, or eyelids. Swelling of the airways can result in difficulty breathing, closing off of the airway and death. If swelling is happening along with signs of breathing difficulty seek help immediately.
Why do hives cause swelling?
It is a vascular reaction that causes an increased ability for fluid in the cells to "leak" into the layers of the skin, resulting in swe lling. This happens much less often than hives alone.
What is swelling in the body?
What Is Swelling? Swelling, otherwise known as edema, is a buildup of fluid in the body. Swelling most often affects the dependent extremities (like the feet, ankles and hands) but swelling can also affect other parts of the body, such as the abdomen. Causes of swelling include:
How to manage swelling in feet?
Things You Can Do To Manage Swelling: Elevate your feet as often as possible. (Either sitting in a chair with your feet on a stool with a pillow or in the bed or couch with feet up on two pillows) Do not stand for long periods of time. Avoid tight clothing (shoes, girdles, etc). Do not cross your legs.
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Chemocare.com is designed to provide the latest information about chemotherapy to patients and their families, caregivers and friends. For information about the 4th Angel Mentoring Program visit www.4thangel.org
