In last CT scan (late January 2020) it showed interval development of small to moderate bilateral pleural effusions and mild associated dependent basil pulmonary atelectasis. Heart is normal
Also body wall edema
What does the above mean?
He developed lymphedema on both legs and one arm right after his 6th Docetaxel on December 5, 2019.
Does the above new development have to do with lymphedema or is it something else?
What does pulmonologist say?
He didn’t see the pulmonologist. MO ordered the scan
What did the MO say?
He didn’t mention about this but said scan shows improvement .
Retrocaval retroperitoneal mode from 2.7x 1.3 to 1.8 cm x .6 cm
Left external lilac node from 1.3 cm x 1.2 cm to 1.3 cm x . 9 cm
Good to see the shrinkage. Maybe you should ask for a consult with a pulmonologist. Pleurisy should be investigated.
His MO is Dr . Vogelzang . You think he would have said something if it was a concern? When he had lymphedema , Dr. Vogelzang refered him for lymphatic treatment.
He has appointment with MO on feb 27th to talk about the next treatment after his last doxataxel on December 5th
On CT scan , pancreas, liver, kidney , spleen , heart all normal .
I think it is up to you to ask questions and to receive answers. It is his life, not the doctor's.
Thanks . He said he will ask Dr Vogelzang next appointment on feb 27th
He has edema and bilateral pleural effusions, which could be a condition called anasarca. Causes include liver failure, kidney failure, right-sided heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, protein-losing enteropathies, severe protein deficiency, and capillary leak syndrome. Chemo could cause capillary leak syndrome. He should be seen by an internist and studied to determine the cause of the fluid retention.
For what it’s worth, my husband’s initial CT scan showed a small lung nodule (thought not to be cancer) and “minimal atelectasis at the lung bases“. We were told it was nothing to worry about. However, your husband clearly has an issue with edema that probably should be investigated.
Plural effusion is bilateral (both) lungs that have mild to moderate fluid buildup at the base...many causes, followup with Docs.
I think you called it right: lymphedema. When the edema fluid leaks out into the chest cavity, it changes names and becomes an "effusion." Same process. The hear looking normal suggests effusions NOT due to lung congestion from heart failure. And the edema is soaking into the body-wall layers as it is in the legs.
Pulmonary effusions have a variety of causes--infectious, neoplastic. Are you aware of any lung or pleural metastases?
I am more familiar in the context of lung cancer, so I don't want to say too much. What often happens is that the pulmonologist will remove some fluid (pleurocentesis) and culture or do cytology to determine the cause. Treatment will depend upon what is causing the effusion. Atelectasis is an area of collapse, which often happens with pleural effusions.
No lung mets. Mets on bone areas
Update: pleural effusion, ER, Completion of SBRT and thank you for previous heartwarming posts
Ozempic-Anti Cancer?
Water retention/ lymphedema-like symptoms after chemo
Docetaxel and gout?
The importance of training your legs (if you can, of course)
