Pleural Effusion

teAlexis · New User Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 5

My SisInLaw has breast cancer that's spread to her breastbone. Last week she was hospitalized for pleural effusion; they drained it; gave her a tube to take home; a day or so later she was feeling the pressure again.

From what I read, if it's caused by her cancer then it will just continue and continue to fill up with fluid and they can only drain her so many times and then no more due to infection.

Anyone know anything about this. Is this the end of the road for her?

Crying or Very sad

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1078 Location: UK

Hi - sorry you have had to join us.

My cancer was diagnosed owing to pleural effusion. Over several months the fluid was drained off, ending with a pleurodysis, which is where the pleural cavity, having been drained, is filled with talc that then sets, preventing the fluid building up. It is generally a relatively easy and successful process.

Your SiL shold have lots of time in hand. You do not day what, if any, treatment is being carried out at present.

teAlexis · New User Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 5

She has had breast cancer for 12 years now and it's gone into her breastbone as I mentioned only recently. She's not having chemo or rad at this time; she's been thru that already. So now I'm hoping she's up to having that peurodysis you mention. She's down to a size 2 right now so I hope she can handle it.

Thank you for your reply. "One Day at a Time"

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1078 Location: UK

If she is losing weight, there is more than simply a pleural effusion to be concerned about, and the doctors will certainly be cautious about pleurodysis if she is lacking strength. Nevertheless, it is worth asking about the procedure.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2852

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear of this for your sister. Sounds like they've put drains in her to remove the fluid at home as it builds up. Is this what is in place? She'd know it, as the drains have to be cleaned and there is training involved.

Sadly, once effusion starts, it is usually tied to the cancer. If she's not going to have more treatment, then the effusion will likely continue.

My husband had 23 thoracentesis procedures, as he didn't want to do pleurodesis. He continued having thoracentesis until very shortly before he passed, so a good lung specialist should be willing to do this to keep her comfortable.

Vee is right -- the weight loss is troubling, especially in light of the fact that she's retaining fluid. My husband would gain a bit because of the effusion, but overall his weight continued to drop.

God bless,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

teAlexis · New User Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Posts: 5

Thanks so much for your replies. She was a size 5 in the spring but is now a size 2.

She left the hospital after two days with something called a "pigtail", if that makes sense. She's a single mom with two 19 years old twins still living at her home.

So I guess it's "One Day at a Time" now.... Sad

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