Stubborn Pleural Effusion

Hodgkins1982
Hodgkins1982 Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
My mother started chemo last Monday, but by Wednesday they admitted her to the hospital to put a port in to drain the Pleural Effusion. At the same time they put another port in to drain the ascites. A couple of days later they did a procedure with talc to seal the lung from abdomen and stop the Pleural Effusion from reoccurring. The problem is, while the ascites has essentially disappeared, the Pleural Effusion is continuing despite the talc procedure.

Has anyone experienced a similar situation?

We are worried because it does not seem typical.

Thanks.

Comments

  • minky1225
    minky1225 Member Posts: 70
    #2
    Mom had that procedure done
    My mom had pleural effusion around both lungs and they performed the procedure only to one side...they said that they wanted to make sure she had at least one functioning lung while the other could heal. She still has small amounts of this that they are constantly monitoring but she had drains in both lungs for almost 3 weeks. It takes time.

    Prayers are with you and Mom.

    Hugs,
    Allison
  • Tina Brown
    Tina Brown Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #3
    Pleural effusion x 4
    Oh yes I can so relate to this. I have now had 4 chest drains with one of the procedures using the talc.

    I had 1 chest drain to the left lung (Nov 09)where they completely emptied it and it has never come back there. However, the right lung has had 3 drains as even though they used the talc in the 2nd procedure (Nov 09), the fluid managed to seep back in again through a little bit that didn't seal properly. My lung doctor said the "talc" procedure has about 80% chance of complete success. My 4th & last pleural effusion was early Jan 2010.

    However, it is not all doom and gloom because my oncologist said that the chemo will eventually get rid of the fluid and help prevent it coming back. My latest CT scan (Feb 10) showed a decrease in the fluid and I am hoping my next one in a few months will show that it has all gone. I have just finished 6 rounds of carbo/taxol.

    Hope this helps Tina xx
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    #4
    Pleural Effusion
    Hi,

    First of all if you trust your mom's oncologist, do everything they recommend.

    Second whoever that person is recommending a tube, just ask your doctor about it and I guarantee you there's more to "that persons" reasons for posting this ridiculous doom and gloom on this board.

    One thing I can tell you is that you probably want everything to heal right away so that your mom will be able to get back to her life. But the ladies are right. The body is going to take time to heal. So don't focus on how long it's taking, just focus on doing the right procedures so your mom can heal properly.

    I say this because, I too was frantic with worrying about things not happening fast enough in relation to my healing. It truly took me 3yrs from the date of diagnosis to finally began to get back to feeling normal.

    I did not have the pleural effusion issues, however; after the complete hysterectomy trust me
    my body responded when it was ready to final heal, but it does take time especially after the body has been so brutally traumatized by not only the disease but the procedures done to the body as well.

    I will continue to pray for you and your mother.

    Take care,

    Sharon

Discussion Boards