life expectancy stage 3b/4 nsclc with pleural effusion

debrad · New User Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

I have a very close friend who was just diagnosed with either stage 3b or 4 squamous cell lung cancer. I am trying to find information about his life expectancy, in order to help family make plans. He is 58 yrs old and has asthma, sleep apnea, diabetes and is overweight. He was diagnosed by cancer cells removed from a pleural effusion of blood and fluid. They inserted 2 chest tubes to drain it, after 2 days one tube was removed because the fluid was greatly decreased; 1 tube remained. But the fluid came back because the tube clotted with blood and it couldn't drain. They are going to put a clot dissolver in soon to try and open the tube again so it will drain.
I realize this is a bad sign, but how bad?
Are we looking at weeks or months?
Since he's overweight, won't that make him live longer (cancer patients are so thin when they die)?

brainman

Hi debrad. I am so very sorry about your friends lung cancer. All of his other health problems will just make it harder for him to live. If he was otherwise healthy, I would feel more confident in saying that he is looking at months or years. But with all of the other issues... I do not know. If possible, you should consult with his own medical team.

You and your friend are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
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pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1133

Hi debrad,

I'm very sorry about your friend's diagnosis. Chemotherapy can be very effective for stopping the spread and may stop the pleural effusion. They may suggest doing a permanent sealing of the pleural area through a procedure called pleurodesis. That way the fluids won't build up again in most cases. My husband had severe pleural effusion issues on and off during his fight. These can be handled to aide in your friend's breathing abilities.

Depending on the overall tumor burden, I agree with Jim. I know the stats are scary, but your friend may do quite well with aggressive chemo and radiation treatment.

Has he lost much weight so far? Some people lose a lot of weight (like my husband) prior to diagnosis and others don't seem to have that problem. I always personally thought that the few extra pounds did help my husband, but he was in tip-top shape before diagnosis. Diabetes does complicate things, especially in radiation. A friend of mine had lc and the rads really spiked her blood sugar. The doctors will be all over his other medical conditions and take those into consideration.

Please keep us posted and know we are here for you. A lot of people on the boards have been in your situation, so there is a lot of knowledge and support.

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

debrad · New User Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

My friend had a more difficult day today. His breathing is more difficult, it takes 15 minutes to recover from taking 2-3 steps. The docs put urokinase in his chest tube to try and dissolve the blood clots in the pleural space. Hopefully this will help, I think his breathing will get alot better if the fluid were removed. But overall, I don't think he looks good. This just happened so fast. I will update again as more happens.
debrad

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1133

debrad,

I understand so much of what you are watching your friend go through fighting for breath. I'm sorry you have to see your friend like this. It will get better once they get the clots and effusion under control.

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

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