Metastatic breast cancer: Anyone had a pleural effusion?

Hi @deamo5339, welcome. I'm tagging @mom23boys who also lives with metastatic breast cancer and has experience with pleural effusion.

Deamo, one step at a time, right. I can imagine you're worried sick. It's a good thing that they sent the fluid for testing. They're being thorough. It doesn't mean bad news, necessarily. We're you only recently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer? When will you hear the results of the pleural fluid testing?

Hi @deamo5339 - Colleen gives the best advice. One step at a time and you are still in the fact finding stage. They will test the fluid to see if it is your breast cancer (mine fluid was in my abdomen) or something different. Stay in touch - you mentioned you hadn’t done chemo so what was your previous treatment? Let us know what you find out. Fingers crossed!

Hi deamo5339, I understand where you are coming from. I was first diagnosed 3 years ago with mets to my femur/humerus and extensive nodules and a small tumor in my lung. They did a biopsy to determine if it was breast cancer spread or lung cancer. They also drained a small pleural effusion at that time.It was from the BC and labeled the effusion "malignant pleural effusion" as it had cancer cells in the fluid. I was scared as my mom died from Lung Cancer. Since that drain they put me on Ibrance for my Estrogen + / Her-2 negative type. It helped with what was in my lungs as well as keeping me from having any further problems with effusion. It also helped with my bone mets.
Recently I had another scare as they spotted possible tumors in the pleural space. They biopsied it last week and also drained more fluid that I didn't even know I had building up. The results sound more like some kind of inflammation but not identifiable as more cancer. It's hard not to be scared until the results come in. Just know that there are so many treatments now that are working wonders. I'll celebrate my 3 years since diagnosis on April 24th, when at first I didn't know if I'd live a year. As far as that effusion goes, I do know gals that have to have theirs drained every so often but they are otherwise doing well.
If you have any more questions and I can be of help just let me know.
Peggie

Hi mom.
Grtgs from Ammaar..my wife being diagnosed with breast cancer Jan 2021..and she went thru chemo 10 circles, after surgery took place..sofar 5months after surgery...she was on another chemo tabs 3 circles done... she got a problem with her sight (seeing rainbow 🌈)..she went brain check and they found 111 enhancing lesson back her neck... please clarify me could this be more dangerous and what could be done because she is advised to do sergury..and we're waiting for the Dr.. but scary because they said the lesson is on vein carrying light rays to the brain..
Your advice is highly appreciated

@umarluv, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community for patients and caregivers like yourself to connect with other patients and caregivers. We cannot give medical advice.

I can imagine you are worried about your wife and the new lesions that were found recently. Have you discussed options for treatment for the metastatic lesions? Have they determined that these lesions are the same cancer that has spread?

Hi..Colleen
Thanks for reply.. the treatment will be discussed after testing the lessons (surgery)
That is when they'll check to know whether the same Cancer which had spread...

Here is the conversation I wanted to tag you in, as there are other members who are her2 positive, they can add support and encouragement while you figure out what is going on and the doctors devise a plan of action. Please post on this page, I am not sure why it won’t let me tag you.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/12-years-out/