Anyone on here with Malignant Pleural Effusion

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katewatts
katewatts Member Posts: 21
edited June 2013 in Lung Cancer #1

My sister has stage 4 lung cancer which has gone to her bones (she did radio-therapy to help with pain in bones) and she has cancer cells in her plueral fluid.  Dr's are saying her prognosis is very bleak. Just wondering if anyone on here has this same diagnosis?  She was diagnosed Jan 30th and is going for a 2nd opinion in about a week. 

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  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #2
    So Sorry...

    But I am in a similar conditions. Mets from laryngx to bones and lungs. To chicken to ask for details. On Chemo with Taxole and Erbitux. First round shrank the tumors. Second round had to be interrupted due to side effects. Just fininshed 3rd round but did not have CT-Scan (a week from now). Let you know how things progress. Rick.

  • katewatts
    katewatts Member Posts: 21
    #3
    ToBeGolden said:

    So Sorry...

    But I am in a similar conditions. Mets from laryngx to bones and lungs. To chicken to ask for details. On Chemo with Taxole and Erbitux. First round shrank the tumors. Second round had to be interrupted due to side effects. Just fininshed 3rd round but did not have CT-Scan (a week from now). Let you know how things progress. Rick.

    Thanks

    My sister is about 3/4 through her chemo.  They tell her the chemo is just paliative care.  In other words.....not going to fix her.  She has been amazing in that she is pushing on and says she is not going to fall into a heap on the floor and give up. She lives in UK and I just came back from seeing her.  She looks amazing aside from being very thin.  She is a shop owner so she is working part time every day.  She and her husband are in France as I type this celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.  Her diagnosis came Jan 30th of this year.  She, at that time, had 6 liters of fluid removed from plueral cavity and has a perminant drain in place now so her husband can drain the fluid at home. It is significantly less now. As I mentioned she is going for a scan on the 15th of this month, will tell her children (4 all in college) about the bleak prognosis that was given by her current oncologist who's bedside mannor leaves little to be desired.  At any rate, once scan is in had, she is to go to the Royal Marsden in London for another opinion. Thank God. I hope all goes well with your treatments.  I too, think I would not ask about a prognosis so I could keep my chin up during treatments.  Please do keep me posted. Thanks so much. 

  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #4
    katewatts said:

    Thanks

    My sister is about 3/4 through her chemo.  They tell her the chemo is just paliative care.  In other words.....not going to fix her.  She has been amazing in that she is pushing on and says she is not going to fall into a heap on the floor and give up. She lives in UK and I just came back from seeing her.  She looks amazing aside from being very thin.  She is a shop owner so she is working part time every day.  She and her husband are in France as I type this celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.  Her diagnosis came Jan 30th of this year.  She, at that time, had 6 liters of fluid removed from plueral cavity and has a perminant drain in place now so her husband can drain the fluid at home. It is significantly less now. As I mentioned she is going for a scan on the 15th of this month, will tell her children (4 all in college) about the bleak prognosis that was given by her current oncologist who's bedside mannor leaves little to be desired.  At any rate, once scan is in had, she is to go to the Royal Marsden in London for another opinion. Thank God. I hope all goes well with your treatments.  I too, think I would not ask about a prognosis so I could keep my chin up during treatments.  Please do keep me posted. Thanks so much. 

    I think

    To my way of thinking: when a cancer is not curable, it does not mean that that cancer cannot be slowed down. Does "pallitive" fall into the let's slow  it down type. I hope so for both of us (and for a lot of other cancer patients.") Rick.

  • dennycee
    dennycee CSN Member Posts: 857 Member
    #5
    katewatts said:

    Thanks

    My sister is about 3/4 through her chemo.  They tell her the chemo is just paliative care.  In other words.....not going to fix her.  She has been amazing in that she is pushing on and says she is not going to fall into a heap on the floor and give up. She lives in UK and I just came back from seeing her.  She looks amazing aside from being very thin.  She is a shop owner so she is working part time every day.  She and her husband are in France as I type this celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.  Her diagnosis came Jan 30th of this year.  She, at that time, had 6 liters of fluid removed from plueral cavity and has a perminant drain in place now so her husband can drain the fluid at home. It is significantly less now. As I mentioned she is going for a scan on the 15th of this month, will tell her children (4 all in college) about the bleak prognosis that was given by her current oncologist who's bedside mannor leaves little to be desired.  At any rate, once scan is in had, she is to go to the Royal Marsden in London for another opinion. Thank God. I hope all goes well with your treatments.  I too, think I would not ask about a prognosis so I could keep my chin up during treatments.  Please do keep me posted. Thanks so much. 

    Not curable does not mean not

    Not curable does not mean not treatable.  At stage for all cancers are considered not curable because cancer cells for likely to be circulating through blood or lymph system.  All treatment is considered palliative.  

    That said, I was given ten months to live 33 months ago when my stage four lung cancer was diagnosed.  There are others who visit here that have survived ten and 15 years with same diagnosis.  They only check in occasionally because they are out living their lives.    Your sisters degree of activity is a good thing and helps the recovery process.  

    If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask at any time.  

  • katewatts
    katewatts Member Posts: 21
    #6
    ToBeGolden said:

    I think

    To my way of thinking: when a cancer is not curable, it does not mean that that cancer cannot be slowed down. Does "pallitive" fall into the let's slow  it down type. I hope so for both of us (and for a lot of other cancer patients.") Rick.

    You are so right

    That's a great way to put it Rick!  I have read on here that "palliative" care has certainly slowed many people's  cancer down and given lots of people a new lease on life and that is certainly what I am hoping for for everyone.  Thanks so much!!! 

  • katewatts
    katewatts Member Posts: 21
    #7
    dennycee said:

    Not curable does not mean not

    Not curable does not mean not treatable.  At stage for all cancers are considered not curable because cancer cells for likely to be circulating through blood or lymph system.  All treatment is considered palliative.  

    That said, I was given ten months to live 33 months ago when my stage four lung cancer was diagnosed.  There are others who visit here that have survived ten and 15 years with same diagnosis.  They only check in occasionally because they are out living their lives.    Your sisters degree of activity is a good thing and helps the recovery process.  

    If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask at any time.  

    Thank you, Denycee

    You have certainly lifted my spirits and I am so thrilled that you are doing so well.  Thank you

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