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when adeno stage 4 lungs fluid around heart and lungs, is it usally malignant cardiad doc did not test just assumed it was
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Aug 23, 2012 - 4:51 pm
cardia doc did not send fluid from tamponade out for testing but just assumed it was malignant since I am stage 4...is that usually the case? |
Joined: Feb 2011
Mom had CT Guided Thoracentesis done twice and both times came back negative for cancer cells. I hope I was able to help you? FYI www.cancergrace there are Doc's on there that could poss. answer better for you if I was of no help or anybody else here?
Good Luck to you!
Sleepless
Mom who’s 62 now. Has been DX 1/3/11 NSCLC (Adeno) Triple mutation neg. 10 days of WBR and brain surgery 1/11, started Carboplatin/Alimta/Zameta and B12, showed 1 tumor growing switched TX to Taxotere/Zameta 5/11 too many side effects, tumors have grown, port put in 8/11, thoracenteses x2 neg.- CA, pleurodesis on both lungs 8/11 & 10/11. Gemzar 8/11 growth and too many side effects.11/16/11 started Navelbine. 5//12 scans showed some growth to chest wall, switch to Topotecan. 7/12 progression with several brain mets, poss leptomeningeal disease (declined lumbar puncture). Tarceva 7/12
Joined: Sep 2011
I read an article about this that said most of the time when the fluids are tested they show negative of cancer cells even though the usually are cancerous or at least develop because of the cancer. "Clarifying that a pleural effusion is malignant can be challenging. Sometimes, the effusion is the first place people look to obtain a diagnosis of lung cancer, but we know that even in patients who ultimately are confirmed to have a malignant pleural effusion (MPE), it can be hard to find cancer cells in the fluid." (Dr. West: Grace.com)So, yes, usually the case.
Joined: Aug 2012
is it true if the fluid is malignant the patient doesn't live long at all???
Joined: Sep 2011
It really depends on how well they respond to treatment... but if poor response then usually just a few months on average... if good then longer, of course
Joined: Aug 2012
FYI, on a webinar I heard someone who represents a very good lab say that nearly half the time they can do mutation testing from the cancer cells found in fluid taken from the pleura. There's not a lot of cells floating in there, but most of the ones that are there are cancer cells so if there's enough they can separate them have a chance have having the equivalent of a biopsy sample.
Best hopes,
Craig in PA
Joined: Sep 2012
This is exactly what my wife had pre-diagnosis. She had a pleural effusion drained on March 30th. April 9th after a needle biopsy we were diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma stage IV in both lungs as a secondary, with primary unknown. They never did find cancer anywhere else. She was drained 2 times on her left side. On May 19th she had a Pleural Effusion on her right side and had CO2 build up and was intibated. Long story short, she passed away on August 7th. Her fluid was tested and did come back neg to the 3 mutations available. They said its not the best way to test but they were pretty sure she would not have a response with any of the specialized chemos. She was put on tarceva for 4 weeks with no response. then chemo for 3 cycles and no response and then alimta for one cycle but it was too late. My wife passed away on August 7th. I hope the best for you and everyone.