Always fighting to get tests, the results & explanation

minikit
minikit Member Posts: 23
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi all
Again looking for some information,
the Xray shows "right pleural effusion", my reading suggests this is ca spread and time left is is very limited maybe weeks.
I'm sorry to ask but there is two week wait for specialist appointment, four weeks wait for urgent CT and the primary doctor will not explain
many thanks
kit

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
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  • AngieD
    AngieD Member Posts: 493
    #3
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Kit, where do you live? Can
    Kit, where do you live? Can you take him to the ER? I have no idea if this applies, but my husband developed a cough and difficulty breathing a couple of weeks ago and the Cancer Ctr had us go to ER. They determined it was fluid on lungs and started him on O2 and Lasix, which gradually reduced the symptoms until he was feeling well again. This turned out to be in no way related to the EC. Although he had no history of cardiac issues and never experienced chest pain, progressively worst cardiac tests indicated he needed quadruple bypass surgery. This was done 1/20 and he sailed through it. He's feeling well now and is scheduled for cardiac rehab orientation on Wed.

    Angie, Stage 2 Breast Cancer 12/27/11
    Wife of Larry, Stage IV EC 6/21/11 Quadruple Bypass Surgery 1/20/12
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #4
    Angie, this is what my mom
    Angie, this is what my mom had when we spent 12 hours in ER last Thursday. Pleural Effusion and Pericardial Effusion. If over 200 they drain the lung. Cardio man said heart was ok. This can happen repeatedly.

    Exercise to keep it at bay:

    Take very deep breath thru nose, hold it, cough it out or breath out through nose. Repeat 10 times every hour.

    Mom's cough all but stopped after lungs were drained. It's a painful procedure. Done outpatient. Ask for:
    1) Chest X-ray
    2) D-Dimer test (looking for clots)
    3) CT Scan

    It is common. Mom's was tested for malignancy - none was found.
  • minikit
    minikit Member Posts: 23
    #5
    Ginny_B said:

    Angie, this is what my mom
    Angie, this is what my mom had when we spent 12 hours in ER last Thursday. Pleural Effusion and Pericardial Effusion. If over 200 they drain the lung. Cardio man said heart was ok. This can happen repeatedly.

    Exercise to keep it at bay:

    Take very deep breath thru nose, hold it, cough it out or breath out through nose. Repeat 10 times every hour.

    Mom's cough all but stopped after lungs were drained. It's a painful procedure. Done outpatient. Ask for:
    1) Chest X-ray
    2) D-Dimer test (looking for clots)
    3) CT Scan

    It is common. Mom's was tested for malignancy - none was found.

    Thanks folks for the quick
    Thanks folks for the quick responses, slow replying but having difficulties getting logged on.

    Bailey - we are doing everything possible to shorten the waiting time but for now we seem to be running out of alternatives. Unfortunately ER is not an option unless it becomes an emergency!

    Angie - we are in New Zealand which has 'free' health care, like other countries services are being covertly slashed for example Oncology day patients are now required to supply their own lunches and pay for chemo side effect drugs. Like many we have jumped the queue and paid for services but this time there is nothing available.

    I have been following your story with interest - wow what an ordeal, obviously very strong people

    Ginny - sadly I am rather certain this is spread. As a result of the PET scan several months ago the oncologist advised the tumor may have a blood supply from the pulmonary vein (haven't been able to find out any more on this)

    As hubby has considerable radiation damage, from 'radical treatment' my fingers are crossed in the faint hope this may also be 'treatment damage'

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