Fluid in lung: I've had a catheter put... - Lung Cancer Support

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Fluid in lung

Kenny1108 profile image
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I've had a catheter put in left lung due to fluid. I've had fluid drained before but now it's coming back after 3 days at about 1200 ml each drain. Why does it come back quicker? I asked my Pulmonary doctor and he could not tell me except to say it's due to my lung cancer. I see my Oncologist next week but I just figured I'd ask one this site first to see if anyone has an answer. The fluid has Adenocarcinoma cells present too but that was the case when I was 4 months between drains in the past. I was told my tumors are stable though from last CT scan. Thanks for any input!

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I cannot answer the "why?" Question but will tell you that when I had a pluerex catheter, I was draining my lungs twice per day and feeling eager to do so as it made breathing so much easier. At that time, I had just been diagnosed stage 4 adenocarcinoma nsclc. I had a pleurodesis (after fluid drained they put a sort of talc in the pleura space to seal it up....I'm not a doc but this is a rough description) and then needed chemo to start doing its job to shrink the cancer/prevent further fluid buildup. At the time, my question was "when will I be able to stop draining?" And the answer was that once the cancer got under control, I would not have fluid building up. My catheter became infected within a couple weeks, and thankfully chemo began doing its job. I hope you find better answers from others on this forum, and I pray that there is an easy explanation and fix since your last scans showed stability.

Kenny1108 profile image
Kenny1108 in reply to Jenniferroseolson

Thanks for the reply. It helped knowing frequent drains can happen. Yes it feels great to breath normally afterwards. I have the exact disease as you too. I guess I just gotta see how it all goes. On Opdivo now as a second line treatment.

Best if luck to you.

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