Anyone had Pleural Effusion with lung cancer? How was it treated?

@tmauko, fellow lung cancer members like @texasmimi @gigi123 @stanleykent can tell you about their experiences with pleural effusion. @merpreb explains more here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/728805/

Pleural effusions are very common, with approximately 100,000 cases diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. It can be treated.

What treatment approach is being recommended for you Tanja? Are you have trouble breathing? Pain?

Tanja. As I was told, pleural effusions are caused by some other condition or illness and the remedy is to to treat the cause and the body should clear the fluid. I had some pleural effusion 6 months after lung surgery and was gone at my 12 month check. This is quite normal. After my second lung surgery there was a bit more fluid and and they removed it. ( Procedure was called Thoracentesis ) The lab tested the fluid and indications pointed the possible cause to be my lymphoma or still could be from my most recent surgery. We decided to just watch it. A couple months later I had a CT and more fluid removed with the same lab results and was decided to treat my lymphoma, which started last Tuesday. All this was at Mayo in Rochester. At the moment, I expect I have some fluid in my left chest currently and they're planning a CT in about 3 months to check on effusion and lymphoma. Unless, of course, if the fluid increased and had loss of breath, fatigue, etc they would investigate sooner.
Could you describe a bit more of how you are feeling and what testing and procedures have been completed? Am hoping your questions can be answered. It is just so challenging... mentally and physically. Stan

Good Morning, right now all that is being done is draining the fluid. I have a tenckhoff catheter on my left side, but other than that nothing. I did have Chemo earlier this year, and thats about it. This is why I am looking for an addition opinion. I am getting frustrated. I am feeling ok as long as the fluid is kept under control. No pain. The breathing can be an issue if there is a large amount of fluid build up. I have oxygen as back up. My oxygen sats are between 89 & 93%. I'm trying to gather as much info as possible. Thank you very much!

Tanja

My husband had a very large (total of 9 liters removed via thorancentesis and PleurX Catheter over 4 weeks). right lung pleural effusion. Biopsies confirm advanced biphasic mesothelioma. After using the vacuum Pleurex system for 3 weeks his effusion had closed. It has remain resolved since January, 2022. The PleurX was removed at the end of February. Many scans and it has not returned. He receives immunotherapy and had a 5 day radiation trial. The lung and lymph node involvement has decreased and no recurrence of the effusion. O2 sats we’re 89-93 and now 98-100. He has another scan the end of September and we will know more then. He is being treated at Mayo, Rochester where we moved upon his diagnosis.

Thank you Stan. I have had stable tumor in my left lung for over 10 years, last Oct 2021, all shit hit the fan, plus a diagnosis of pleural effusion. Had Chemo to try and treat tumor (to shrink, but nope) however, this is an extremely slow growing tumor, the problem is the pleural effusion, I currently have a tenckhoff catheter inserted and have the fluid removed daily, had 2 thoracentesis already. With the catheter in and the fluid being drained regularly, I can function relatively normal. Have had no surgeries yet, not sure if my doctor will, no radiation either. Just think it is time for a second opinion. I am Canadian and have heard many good things about the Mayo, I just need straight up answers which I do not feel I am getting here with my doctors. Did or do you have lung cancer? If you do not want to answer, that is ok. I am stumped that after all this time, this happens, and I think my doctors and confused as well as to how this happened. Thank you
Tanja

Thank you. I currently have a tenckhoff catheter inserted, draining daily. I had a stable left lung tumor for over 10 years then in Oct 2021 it became unstable with now a diagnosis of pleural effusion. The draining doesn't seem to decrease. I am about 9 weeks in and becoming very frustrated. My tumor is extremely slow growing, but growing in the direction of my spine. I'm Canadian and starting to lose faith in my doctors and looking for a second opinion, possibly Mayo FL. I am very frustrated and scared, not sure if I am being told everything. Had Chemo, but no real change, no radiation as yet and my doctors are not sure if they will, no explanation given either. Thank you for your feedback, much appreciated.

Tanja

Tanja, In 2019 they found a lung nodule 2.8 mm in size. They watched it for 3 months and it increased in size and a biopsy determined it was cancer. A lobectomy was performed. Another small cancerous tumor was found in 2021 and they did a wedge resection surgery. My post surgery pleural effusion did not resolve itself, and actually increased this spring and testing of the fluid pointed them to feel it was not cancer related and this is why hematology is treating my lymphoma. My cancer situation is so much different than yours, but from my experience, the doctors wanted to know the type of my tumor and would react based on the size, location, biopsy and testing results, as well as my physical condition.
I sure wish I had better information for you and hope you can get a second look at your condition. Keep us informed and if you do have any questions about our experiences, let us know. Stan

Hello, I had pleural effusion after my lobectomy in June. A thoracentesis to remove the fluid determined the cause to be a chyle leak. After a month on low-fat diet and a second thoracentesis it seems to have resolved itself. I wish you the best.

Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021, had chemo and radiation was prescribed Tagrisso, latter on plural effusion appearef in my lung it is being drained three times a week. My oncologist replaced Tagrisso with Gilotrif, I went to Mexico for integrative treatment, plural effusion drainage started August 2022. Anyone has this experience?

What is integrative treatment?