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Anyone had Pleural Effusion with lung cancer? How was it treated?
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Jul 13, 2023 | Replies (37)Comment receiving replies
Hi, I've been searching for answers and decided to ask anyone out there. My husband was diagnosed with a carsinoid lung tumour typical. They said it was benign. He had a Pet scan and the tumour was contained. This tumour was removed with a lung resection with the lower lobe removed in Oct 2022. Now 7 months later he has a plural effusion on the same lung which showed up on an x-ray. 1 litre was drained last week and was a dark blood colour. He Is short of breath and coughing. We are waiting of the testing of the fluid. What would cause this 7 months later? Could it be Trauma from the operation or could this be that they're other cancer cells or another tumour? thanks
Hei
Replies to "Hi, I've been searching for answers and decided to ask anyone out there. My husband was..."
10 months after VAT surgery on right lung, I developed significant pain when taking deep breath, shortness of breath and went to ER. They did a CT scan and said I had pleurisy. I chose to wait before doing a thoracentesis since my pulmonologist was out of town. It resolved itself and they think it was just some kind of infection,
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Hi Hei @hei59, You are likely not finding conclusive answers, because there are many reasons that this type of fluid may build up. Only the results of the fluid tests, and possibly a CT scan will answer those questions. I know the waiting is very difficult, and it's easy to let your mind run to the worst-case scenarios, but we don't know that this is cancer.
Did the x-ray show any areas of concern, other that the fluid (IE. masses)?
Did the doctors give you an idea of how long the fluid analysis would take?