Pleural effusion 6 yrs post dx same side

Bfhandley

ok so i am completely new here. I never got on these things when i had cancer. In October I was having pain in my breast area of the original cancer side. They did a ct and found a small pleural effusion on that side. It was stating also minimal invation most likely inflamation related. So i take steroids and antibiotics. Ct 6 weeks later still a small wffusion but more fluid now than last time and i havebeen having shortness of breath issues. I am out of breath just doing laundry. My ca2729 count was 41. My alp is also elevated. I had an echo to rule out congestive heart failure as the cause. I go for chest x ray and repeat labs on monday. I am a nervous wreck. Also just got served with divorce papers 😞

bevin

I am sorry you are going through this. I am glad your doctors are checking everything thouroughly. Are you seeing a pulmonary doc and an oncologist too? I'd perhaps suggest a second opine by a pulmonologist to ensure you get to the bottom of this.

KBeee

I second what Bevin said about seeing a pulmonologist, etc. I am sorry you have so much hitting you at once. One foot in front of the other to move forward. I hope you have definitive answers soon. (((Hugs))

Bfhandley

thanks everyone. I know that my oncologist is consulting with a pulminologist on this matter. I think before sticking a needle in he wanted to make sure to exclude many other possible issues. Also my grandmother passed away from panceatic cancer and my uncle on thw same side now has prostate cancer. He isnt even 60 yet. So we have ruled out infection, conjestive heart failure. So basically the chest x ray and bloodwork willdetermine drainage. I know that the shortness of breath isnt getting better and i habe been having lots of digestive issue

Bfhandley

Well i had a chest x-ray and another ca27-29 test. The effusion is def showing on the xray now which it didnt before. But I knew it would becuse my SOB Is getting worse. My ca27-29 also went up 20 more points than last time. So thos week I am having a PET scan and will be seeing thenpulminologist for a biopsy. I have also developed a cough And wheezing. Also habe been in really bad pain on my right side

bevin

Good luck BF- Can they drain the effusion? That will help sob and is a fairly easy procedure. out patient. My mom tolerated it well . Good luck with pulmonary doc.

Bfhandley

Well didnt want to jump back on here but i had a pet scan because fluid had increased and so had tumor counts. Got the results today and sooo not what inwanted to hear. It has teturned in my original breast and has spread to c5 in my neck. My left long bone in my upper arm. The 5th rib on my left side. And they believe the pleural effusion is malignant as well. There were also some other areas of auspicion

KBeee

bfhandley, so sorry to hear that. I hope they have a plan in place soon.