Stage IV Cervical Cancer....stomach swelling?

My soon to be mother-in-law has stage IV cervical cancer. It has spread, widely. (spine, legs, abdominal areas, medulla).Currently she is in "rehab" care in a local clinic. They have been assessing her and trying a little physical therapy & pain management. If the rehab doesn't prove to help any, she will be moved into palliative care on the other end of the building. Yesterday when visiting her, she was very disoriented. She was like this in the hospital while on morphine, which she isn't on anymore, so it struck me as odd. I felt her skin, it was cool, but her breathing was ok. But, her stomach was ballooned out like she was pregnant and she got very upset, saying that she was nauseaous. They had tried one dose of chemo one month ago that she didn't take well to, and since, they decided not to go with it again. I know some of these things, the skin, and the confusion are signs of end of life, is the stomach bloating another sign? Or could it be just buildup of gas & fluid?

All of this makes sense, with what I've read, thank you. I guess what I'm trying to get at is, is this close to the end, would anyone think? She also seems to be having problems with hot/cold. She said her soup was very cold yesterday, when in fact it was still steaming. Noone can predict the end, but it seems that she's exhibiting the end-of-life signs and I want to make sure that this is very possibly it. I guess either way, the stomach thing is not a good sign I would assume.

Well, all the answers above are correct. Without looking at the patient, it is difficult to be certain what is the cause.
It could be oedema because of lymphatic obstruction. It could be enlarged lymph nodes because of the spread of cancer. It could also be ureteric obstruction due to local spread and extension of the tumor to the bladder or distal ureter.
However, more frequent would be either fluid retention or gaseous build-up. The fluid retention is called ascites. The gaseous build-up is due to bowel obstruction when the tumor blocks part of the bowel.
It is best to ask the attending doctor what could it be and what to do with it. Most important to you as a close relative is to realise that all the possible causes above signal very advance stage of cancer.
Good Day.

It's called oedema. Quite common in late stage cancers within the abdomen.

Well you have answered your own question you just didn't know it. When cancer is present in the stomach/ abdominal area it can and does make the stomach swell. I do believe it is the lmypnodes that make her stomach swell. Or it could be ureteral obstruction (blockage in the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder). Therefore making her stomach swell because the extra retention of the urine.

You might want to do some reading about end of life issues including what to prepare for as the time comes:

Medline Plus: End of Life Issues
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endof...

A dying person guide to dying
http://www.acponline.org/public/h_care/d...

The swelling of the abdomen can single fluid building up. It is called ascites and it is treatable. You should call her doctor to see if she can have paracentesis done (excess fluid can be drained from the abdomen). There may be other options as well, so this should be discussed with her doctor.

NCI: Fluid in the abdomen
http://www.plwc.org/portal/site/PLWC/men...

Stay strong.