pleural effusion

[Lookingahead]

hi all you very supportive ladies . 4 years since my diagnosis with stage 3 ovarian cancer I have had all the chemo combinations available plus Avastin and PARP inhibitors . I was then in a clinical trial for a year which had a small effect and finished in March.

a couple of weeks ago , I was admitted to hospital with a pleural effusion plus collapsed lung . I had 2.2litres of fluid drained from my lung!

Has anyone else been in this situation ? It’s a bit scary as when I googled pleural effusion , it indicated that I don’t have a lot of time left .

I was having 3 weekly cycles of Gemcitabine plus Cisplatin . I missed the 3rd cycle because of the pleural effusion .

I will re start next week and hope that it will reduce my Ca125 .

I hope all that made sense .

I’m in the UK , so Elahere isn’t an option as a next treatment yet .

does anyone have good news having suffered a pleural effusion ?

Sending prayers and good wishes to everyone

🙏🙏❤️

[Lyndy]

Hi Lookingahead

I had double pleural effusions on each lung in 2020… they were not drained as the hospital refused to believe I didn’t have covid. Eventually I had 2 IPC drains put in and managed to have chemo. Both drains were successfully removed in late 2020 and I got on to Olaparib once I finished chemo.

I don’t think it’s the pe that causes the problem, it’s more about how the chemo works once you are on it xx

[Lookingahead in reply to Lyndy]

thank you x

[Kjpip]

Hi Lookingahead,

I had 2 litres drained from my right lung 2 weeks ago and am actually in the pleural clinic this morning to see if any/how much has come back and whether it needs draining again. I basically only had one lung working and was incredibly breathless but feel much better now and they still let me have my first carbo/gem cycle but I missed my day 8 gemcitabine dose because of the effusion. My next cycle is booked for next week.

I had a small pleural effusion the first time round in 2021 too, but the chemo dried it up so it didn't need draining. I think it's just one of those lovely side effects of OC, same as ascites. (Which I also had, massively, the first time round!) Please don't Google, the information can be very generic, out of date and super scary and I'm sure you'll get much better, positive information on here!

I hope your chemo restarts as planned and that everything goes more smoothly for you now that your lungs are in better shape xx

[Lookingahead in reply to Kjpip]

You have cheered me up . I had an x ray this morning to check if any fluid is building up . I re start my Cisplatin / gemcitibine tomorrow so I am hoping it will continue to work . I missed one 3 weekly cycle whilst the fluid was drained and I recovered . 🙏❤️

[Motiva]

Hello,

I presented with a pleural effusion. The bevacizumab was food at clearing it up. I had a pleurex drain in for 8 weeks while the treatment got started. We learnt to do the draining at home so as not to have more hospital visits than necessary.

I hope your treatment resumes as planned and is effective.

F x

[Kjpip in reply to Motiva]

Hi F,Can I ask what the pleurex drain was like? My pleural team are very much advocating this for me if I keep re-filling but I don't like the sound of it! I imagine it stops you comfortably lying on your side? How obtrusive was it for you?

K x

[Lookingahead in reply to Kjpip]

So far , I only had the drain in whilst in hospital and it was removed before I came home . So I don’t know what it will be like to have a permanent drain . Best of luck ❤️

[Motiva]

Hi,

It was surprisingly easy way to adjust to. The pleasure of not having to have a drain inserted each time meant it could be done more frequently before a significant volume built up so your breathing is easier.

The presence of fluid seems to stimulate more fluid so by keeping it drier it decreases the rate of production.

I had some waterproof dressings so even succumbed to a sit of the edge of a hot tub once! Probably not recommended but did avoid swimming.

I hope not to have to do it again but if the PE returns would opt for it from the start .

Good luck with it all.

Fx

[Kjpip in reply to Motiva]

Thank you so much for replying, it's always good to hear these things from someone who really knows 🙂

[Casamimosa]

Hi, I am 4 years in after being diagnosed with stage 4 OC. I've had chemo /operation/ parp and I'm currently having chemo again. At the very start I had both my lungs drained 4 litres left lung 3 Litres right lung. Both were then sealed and I have had no trouble with lungs since so far. It's my lymph nodes misbehaving at the moment. What I'm trying to say is I'm Still Here despite all that. Ongoing treatment is wearing and I'm hoping after this chemo to get a break and be free from treatment for a while. It will always be a monkey on my shoulder but I just keep fighting on.I hope this helps. pleural effusion once treated shouldn't recur

So far it hasn't for me. Sending you positive thoughts and love.

[Lookingahead in reply to Casamimosa]

Thank you so much . That is very positive . My Onc decided not to seal it unless it returns. I will know tomorrow how it’s going . I am ever the optimist and keep hoping a new treatment will turn up 🙏❤️

[Casamimosa]

I believe being positive helps us to keep on going and fighting.