Your body may retain fluid when you are having chemotherapy. This may be due to hormonal changes from your therapy, to the drugs themselves, or to your particular cancer. Inform your health care practitioner if you notice swelling or puffiness in your face, hands, feet, or abdomen. You may need to avoid table salt and foods that have a lot of salt (like sea vegetables or seaweed). If the problem is severe, your doctor may prescribe a diuretic, medicine to help your body get rid of excess fluids. Do not self-prescribe a diuretic remedy since taking diuretics (herbal or prescription) can change the mineral balance of the body and create secondary side-effects on the heart or other organs.