Pleural effusion

hopeful34

Hello. It has been a while since I have been on here. In April I went for my five year check up and my tumor markers had went from 16 to 41. I realize this is not high, but it was elevated enough for my onc to order a chest xray for chest pain I had been having. The chest xray showed pneumonia, but I had no symptoms. A couple weeks later I had a fever, so he put me on antibiotics. After two courses of different antibiotics, he ordered another chest xray which showed a pleural effusion. I then had a CT which confirmed the pleural effusion and a pericardial opacity. I went this past Thursday to have it drained. Almost a liter of fluid. Anyway, they are biopsying it and I find out the results Monday. I am kind of freaking out. Everything I look up says a malignant pleural effusion prognosis is only 4 to 10 months survival. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks. Sorry for rambling on.

bevin

Hi Hopeful, I don't have direct experience with this, but a family member did. She had kidney cancer w mets to bone. The pleural effusions would come and go over a period of 5 years. Each draining showed no cancer in the fluid. Her issues were due to cardiac issues and a mitral valve problem that was causing the effusion. Hopefully you're not facing cancer and its related to the pneuomonia or something else easier to treat.

 

I know others will be along soon to chime in and give support with their stories and experiences.  Good luck and keep us posted.

hopeful34

thank you.