pleurodesis - palliative (update from radiation damage post)

minikit
minikit Member Posts: 23
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi all

Yesterday they drained 1.5 litres, still double that in the space, of foul smelling fluid from the pleural of the lungs.

Waiting for lab findings but the thought is this is malignant pleural effusion.

Recommendation is pleurodesis, does anyone have any experience of this?

It is thought survival will be a few months.

thanks
kit

Comments

  • JReed
    JReed Member Posts: 428
    #2
    Hi Kit
    Just wanted to tell you that we're thinking of you. I have never heard of that - but will watching to see what responses you will be getting.

    I know you are busy with things right now - but we'll also be watching to see what is going on and how things are working for you guys.

    Sending you big cyber hugs
    Judy
  • DeadStarfish311
    DeadStarfish311 Member Posts: 3
    #3
    pleurdosis
    My husband with stage 4 Es had a Subclavin IV line port that caused pneumonia, Afetr weeks of traeting and draining and hiccuops, Dr did pleurdisis, caused the lining to become 'sticky' in hopes that lung stays expanded and drains to heal faster. GOOd Luck, my husband was in pateibnt 8 wks with this and infection from peg tube surgery that went unattended for 30 days. When antibodics are administered NO Chemo is given to fight the cancer.
    mark came home after 8weeks and died at home 30 days later.
    Had BETTER, more detailed and Reality based info been provided to us, we would have made MUCH better and different choices that may have provided a better qulaity of remaining lfe to my husband.
    We went to CTCA Phila PA and had ONE constant NIGHTMARE wrapped in hope and compasion BUT no REAL comprehensive care or followup. CTCA is NOT what they profess to be at the tune of $2790/day R&B
  • minikit
    minikit Member Posts: 23
    #4
    JReed said:

    Hi Kit
    Just wanted to tell you that we're thinking of you. I have never heard of that - but will watching to see what responses you will be getting.

    I know you are busy with things right now - but we'll also be watching to see what is going on and how things are working for you guys.

    Sending you big cyber hugs
    Judy

    Hi Judy
    Just spotted your
    Hi Judy

    Just spotted your posting - wanted to share some better news, actually I want to scream and jump for joy - its not cancer!

    The clinicians warn that they believe it is but so far the cytology results state NO malignant cells!

    I keep the report close and when its tough I pulled it out and remind myself that hope is still on our side.

    Things are still serious though, today's x-ray show the lung is nearly full of fluid. He is losing condition rapidly down 3kg in a few days, his heart is stressed, he needs to pant and there is considerable pain. I now shower and dress him and he is mostly in bed as it is the most comfortable place to be.

    We have been very lucky to score a young doctor and he has pushed hard to have the pluurodesis carried out in the next few days.So fingers crossed all goes well and we can have some quality time together.

    Great news about Don's progress,uplifting reading such positive posting

    Thanks Judy those cyber hugs, just what I needed
  • minikit
    minikit Member Posts: 23
    #5
    DeadStarfish311 said:

    pleurdosis
    My husband with stage 4 Es had a Subclavin IV line port that caused pneumonia, Afetr weeks of traeting and draining and hiccuops, Dr did pleurdisis, caused the lining to become 'sticky' in hopes that lung stays expanded and drains to heal faster. GOOd Luck, my husband was in pateibnt 8 wks with this and infection from peg tube surgery that went unattended for 30 days. When antibodics are administered NO Chemo is given to fight the cancer.
    mark came home after 8weeks and died at home 30 days later.
    Had BETTER, more detailed and Reality based info been provided to us, we would have made MUCH better and different choices that may have provided a better qulaity of remaining lfe to my husband.
    We went to CTCA Phila PA and had ONE constant NIGHTMARE wrapped in hope and compasion BUT no REAL comprehensive care or followup. CTCA is NOT what they profess to be at the tune of $2790/day R&B

    Starfish, I was really sorry
    Starfish, I was really sorry to read about your husband, Mark. I hope you are taking care of yourself and find time to stop and remember the good times shared with Mark.

    I dont know your story but if you want to share please do.

    Sending lots of hugs
    kit
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #6
    Mom had pleural effusion and
    Mom had pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. I remember that day well. We had our scheduled Onc appt that day. Nurses drew labs and all came back ok. I said she can't breathe. They called the doc who said go to ER. We drove across the parking lot to the ER. We were there 12 hours (there were two heart attack arrivals so all effort went to those two men). During our wait all tests came back good. I kept insisting mom couldn't breathe. At 11 pm they called the Onc at home who said to run a D-Dimer test. (looking for blood clots). That test came back positive. Off we went for a CT scan at 11:30pm. That came back positive for pleural effusion and pericardial effusion, so at midnight mom was admitted.

    They ended up draining one lung. They warned that this could happen again. They tested fluid for malignancy - found none. Mom said she knew her lungs were filling after that episode, but never had her lungs drained again. They did order breathing machines for her though. They helped.
  • minikit
    minikit Member Posts: 23
    #7
    Ginny_B said:

    Mom had pleural effusion and
    Mom had pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. I remember that day well. We had our scheduled Onc appt that day. Nurses drew labs and all came back ok. I said she can't breathe. They called the doc who said go to ER. We drove across the parking lot to the ER. We were there 12 hours (there were two heart attack arrivals so all effort went to those two men). During our wait all tests came back good. I kept insisting mom couldn't breathe. At 11 pm they called the Onc at home who said to run a D-Dimer test. (looking for blood clots). That test came back positive. Off we went for a CT scan at 11:30pm. That came back positive for pleural effusion and pericardial effusion, so at midnight mom was admitted.

    They ended up draining one lung. They warned that this could happen again. They tested fluid for malignancy - found none. Mom said she knew her lungs were filling after that episode, but never had her lungs drained again. They did order breathing machines for her though. They helped.

    Thanks Ginny - still in
    Thanks Ginny - still in hospital after VATS pleurodesis with complications including a pneumothorax which is increasing in size,

    fingers crossed but not looking good!

    love the photo
  • Ginny_B
    Ginny_B Member Posts: 532
    #8
    minikit said:

    Thanks Ginny - still in
    Thanks Ginny - still in hospital after VATS pleurodesis with complications including a pneumothorax which is increasing in size,

    fingers crossed but not looking good!

    love the photo

    Hugs!
    Oh I do hope it goes well. I've never heard of those words. Scary though. Please keep us posted. (Photo of my mo and son dancing at his wedding. It was a happy day)
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    #9
    Hi Kit
    Hi Kit

    My husband also had the pleurodesis and his fluid was malignant. He was drained 4 times in 1 months time in the lungs and then had a pneumothorax (SP) He had to have a chest tube put in.
    Then the fluid went to his abdomen area and that also was cancerous. He passed away a month later. I am sorry that I can not be too optomistic but this is what happened to us.

    I will be writing a new post on our story next regarding recurrence if you want to read it. Good luck as I know this is so heartbreaking. I am so very sorry for your pain and your husbands. EC SUCKS. There is no other way to say it.


    Love

    Barb Rizz
  • JReed
    JReed Member Posts: 428
    #10
    minikit said:

    Thanks Ginny - still in
    Thanks Ginny - still in hospital after VATS pleurodesis with complications including a pneumothorax which is increasing in size,

    fingers crossed but not looking good!

    love the photo

    More cyber hugs to you
    We will keep fingers, toes, arms, legs and eyes crossed for some good news and mojo to come your way. I pray that peace and comfort come to you to help get you over the stupid bumps this stupid cancer causes.

    Today I will sign off with lots of big cyber hugs to you.

    FEC and hugs,
    Judy

    P.S. You can tell my mood - if the FEC is before hugs - it's one of 'those' moments, if hugs is before FEC - it means "I'm ok right now". Just my personal moods - which seem to be all over the place recently.
  • HopeBA
    HopeBA Member Posts: 1
    #11
    Ginny_B said:

    Mom had pleural effusion and
    Mom had pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. I remember that day well. We had our scheduled Onc appt that day. Nurses drew labs and all came back ok. I said she can't breathe. They called the doc who said go to ER. We drove across the parking lot to the ER. We were there 12 hours (there were two heart attack arrivals so all effort went to those two men). During our wait all tests came back good. I kept insisting mom couldn't breathe. At 11 pm they called the Onc at home who said to run a D-Dimer test. (looking for blood clots). That test came back positive. Off we went for a CT scan at 11:30pm. That came back positive for pleural effusion and pericardial effusion, so at midnight mom was admitted.

    They ended up draining one lung. They warned that this could happen again. They tested fluid for malignancy - found none. Mom said she knew her lungs were filling after that episode, but never had her lungs drained again. They did order breathing machines for her though. They helped.

    2007, Stage III esophageal cancer- 2012, 5 year anniversary
    I was diagnosed with stage III esophageal cancer in 2007 also involving several nodes. I had radiation, chemo, and surgery. After my surgery, I developed pleural effusion and percardial effusion. The doctors drained the fluid from my left lung three times. The fluid returned each time. I don't have good air flow in my left lung and often get short of breath with exertion but am able to live with this, so far. My doctor advised me not to have the fluid drained anymore because past biopsies have come back negative for cancer and the fluid keeps coming back. He also told me about the procedure, pleurdisis, but said that it isn't pleasant to go through and that he didn't advise me to have this done at this time. They believe the damage was caused from radiation and probably is surgery related as well. I also had fluid around my heart, they did surgery to drain that and so far it hasn't reoccurred. Actually, tomorrow I will be celebrating my 5 year anniversary, cancer free. I am so thankful that I made it this far, especially since prognosis was not good! I have had several medical issues that are surgery related, since my surgery in 2007 and was wondering if anyone else has had any problems? The most annoying and painful issue is that I have a terrible time with bile coming up in my throat and with vomiting. It burns my throat causing terrible pain and I have aspirated into my lungs several times. Meds for reflux does not work to calm the bile. Does anyone else have this problem?

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