Fluid in Lungs came back positive for cancer...What does this mean?!?

mrsbotch said:

Hi I just read your posts.
Hi

I just read your posts. From what We experienced fluid that is cancerous is not good. Vince also had
malignant fluid in his abdomen. Dr. Gibson at UPMC explained it this way. Its like all of your organs in the
Abdomen (liver, kidneys, etc) floating in a fishbowl of cancerous fluid. Once Vince had his last chest drain
He passed away a week later. REMEMBER THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO US. This may not be the case with your mom.


Please know that everyone is different. Is your mom Stage 4 ? If she is the Dr is telling you the truth. It will
not change the stage. Vince was a stage 2b and once he had the fluid he went to Stage 4.
The chemo did not control Vince's cancer. He started chemo) in Oct 2010 and passed away Feb 2011. He first
Noticed the fluid in Dec 2010 and at that time he was taking the big guns of Taxotere, Cisplatin, and 5FU.



I am sure the City of Hope is a great place so do your research .




I am so sorry you are going thru all of this. This was the hardest thing that I have ever been thru.



If you need any help please let me know. As far as what to expect IF IT WERE ME I would go and try to be with
Mom as soon as you can. EC is vicious and you never know what will happen next. If you want to call me I am
at 706-897-4056
Anytim


Barbara

I know this is an older post, but I'm in a similar situation and am looking for any info or advise.

My mom had fluid drained from her lung, which came back as cancer.  We are waiting for pathology to come back to see if they can determine the source.  The fluid is re-accumulating at at rapid rate and she is in so much pain.  We have been in the hospital for about a week.  I'm trying to grasp what is going on.  What does it all mean??

wildiris said:

Info

I know this is an older post, but I'm in a similar situation and am looking for any info or advise.

My mom had fluid drained from her lung, which came back as cancer.  We are waiting for pathology to come back to see if they can determine the source.  The fluid is re-accumulating at at rapid rate and she is in so much pain.  We have been in the hospital for about a week.  I'm trying to grasp what is going on.  What does it all mean??

Tough days - from experience I would suggest that you push to have the fluid drained again, as the fluid is likely to further damage your moms lung function.

If treatments options are offered - question these, especially for possible additional complications.

My hubby was advised to have a pleurodesis to ensure there would be no further effusions while the pleuodesis was very successful his breathing is very restricted with air only going into the top of the lung, this is considered emergency breathing.

kit

luna800 said:

Fluid in Lungs but clear cat-scan

i know it is too early to tell much of anything but my mother had fluid in her lungs that she had drained (needs to have more drained). The doctor said the fluid tested positive for malignent cells that seemed to be from her overies or stomach lining. She went in for a CAT-scan of her lower abdonmen and they see nothing. They are very suprised they are not seeing masses in those areaa. Sounds like a good sign but also puzzling to the doctors. Her doctor asked that the family go with my mother to see an oncologist on Tuesday. Perhaps the blood work will tell more. Are there specific questions i should be asking the doctor? Is it common not to see things on a scan the first time around? Should they do an MRI or other type of scan? 

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. 

I would first make sure your doctors did a diagnostic CT scan.  Then, I would also ask for a PET scan.  These scans do not pick up everything.  Sometimes, malignancies are below the detection tolerance.  Ask your doctor for the most sensitive diagnostic tool.  You can also seek a second opinion.

Good luck to you.