Stage IIIB NSCLC Fluid build up in lungs

justpat

We went to doctor today and had a port put in. My husband was told he has NSCLC July 1, 2005. At that time they drained 3 liter of fluid from right lung. When we went today they tell us the lung is 2/3 full again. They made appointment with a lung doctor to talk to us about draining the fluid and either doing the talc treatment called I belive Pleurodesis or something where they insert a tube and it drains into a small bag all the time. I have found plenty of information on the Pleurodesis on line but I can not find anything about a permenant tube to drain fluid into. The only thing I find is Thoracentesis which is what they did the first time and also Thoracic drainage which is not a tube that is left in. Has anyone had this done or can anyone help me find information on this?? I am told the Pleurodesis is very painful to have done. I want information on the tube that they place and how and why. I also think that if it has taken 4 months for the fluid to build up then perhaps we don't need either one at this point. I do know from my brother having his lungs drained that they can only drain the fluid about 4 times total and that each time they drain the fluid the faster it comes back and quicker you have to drain it again.
Please help me decide what to do. My husband depends on my conversations and readings to help him decide what he wants to do.
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leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Hello

First, there is no limit on the amount of time you can do a thoracentesis. The problem is that there is a risk involved each time, including bleeding, infection, pneumothorax (air in the pleural space for which a chest tube is needed) and others. Sometimes we can place a pigtail cathether which can be left in and the patient can then empty it periodically. Another possibility that you mentioned is pleurodesis, which is also doable. Not being a surgeon I am not sure what the best option is, but both can be done for palliative purposes.

best regards,
Dr. Leo F
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

justpat

Leo, Thank you so much for the information. This was our first visit to the Lung Doctor instead of the Cancer Doctor. I think that I would recommend that anyone who has Lung Cancer should not only have a Cancer Doctor but a Lung Doctor. He was so informative! We learned more today than we have in the last 4 months. He explained the fluid is not in the lung but outside the lung and when it builds up that is what causes him to have trouble breathing. He did a breathing test today. Our first and he has scheduled for my husband to swallow a tube on the 16th to see if there is a problem there. He says if there is a tumor in the windpipe he can do radiation to help. He told us draining the fluid would not really help because there are more than one fluid sacs that would need to be drained. He also told us he wants to check out the tumor before he considers the gluing the lung to the outside lining and he said this may help but it is not always successful in stopping the drainage. So now we wait until the 16th and see where we go from there.
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justpat

Leo, Thank you so much for the information. This was our first visit to the Lung Doctor instead of the Cancer Doctor. I think that I would recommend that anyone who has Lung Cancer should not only have a Cancer Doctor but a Lung Doctor. He was so informative! We learned more today than we have in the last 4 months. He explained the fluid is not in the lung but outside the lung and when it builds up that is what causes him to have trouble breathing. He did a breathing test today. Our first and he has scheduled for my husband to swallow a tube on the 16th to see if there is a problem there. He says if there is a tumor in the windpipe he can do radiation to help. He told us draining the fluid would not really help because there are more than one fluid sacs that would need to be drained. He also told us he wants to check out the tumor before he considers the gluing the lung to the outside lining and he said this may help but it is not always successful in stopping the drainage. So now we wait until the 16th and see where we go from there.
_________________
Living and Loving One Day at a Time!!

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