Sorry to hear about your situation. I haven't suffered a pleural effusion but when your post comes up, I see a section to the right called Related Posts and these might help. Or you could try searching the site. I do know that many ladies on here have had this and hopefully they will write back to you.
Maybe you can pause your treatment, get your strength back.
Don't despair. Do you have anyone to support you? I see you're in Canada - is there an organisation like this or Macmillan there that you can call on a free number?
Hi, I was just going to ask if you had had your pleural effusion drained but I've just noticed that you're on bevacizumab so they won't do that as the bev would mean you bleed too much. I would ask about the option to pause the bev so that you could have your lung drained. It should give you enormous relief to have the fluid drained, you won't feel so tired and breathless all the time and it might be that the fluid won't return once it's been drained.
(If it does keep coming back, there is the option to have a permanent drain fitted (although not while on bevacizumab), which your community nurse or even you yourself can drain at home every few days.)
I had terrible pleural effusion at the start of my recurrence where I basically only had one lung working at all - I've had 2 drains which made me feel loads better and thankfully by the 3rd cycle of gemcitabine/carboplatin my pleural effusion was down to 'moderate' and they didn't do the 3rd drain I was booked in for so it has stopped recurring and is hopefully drying up a bit too now (just had my 4th cycle yesterday).
I hope you can get this sorted and have some relief from feeling like a zombie 💙
I had a Wats or something when they glue your pleura put talk. I did not have lots of liquids since than. After that now I’m on chemo but after 5 cicle did not drain. My oncologist always increase the dosage and is very hard. I got an allergy reaction from carbon Latin and now I am on cusplatin. First night I hade lots of vomiting and diarrhoea all night.
I am wondering if somebody even gets out of pleural infusion. My oncologist told me that he will going to increase chemotherapy…
I am not sure that I will be free of plural infusion because one oncologist told me that nothing will help me. I don’t know if I have to continue suffering with chemo or stop everything…
Hi chocolatemilk,I have found this combination much milder than carbo-taxol, I have not felt very sick and in fact haven't had to take all 3 days of ondansetron they give me (which helps get my bowels going again quicker!) I have been more tired than usual the week after chemo but nothing too extreme. I haven't lost my hair either on this combination, although it is a little thinner.
It has made my magnesium really drop though, I had to have a 2 hour magnesium infusion before my last chemo, as well as sachets to take home, so if they tell you it's getting a bit low, try to counteract this with your diet before you get to this stage if you can!
Good luck on Friday, I hope all goes well for you 🙏
I am Canadian but unfortunately oncologist there told me that I can not qualify for Bevacizumab and that nothing will help me. He leaft me for 8 months without any treatment because my tumor marker was only eighty. When I received after scan enlarged lymph glands he call me for chemo, no Bevacizumab and told me I have few months to live.
I was so scared and run to Bulgaria when I got Bevacizumab immediately and much more.
I agree you need a different doctor. If a second doctor gives the same opinion then I would listen. I hope you are in an urban area. If you could get your lung drained and be able to breathe better you’d be in a better position to evaluate your options.
I always thought that if I was told that there is nothing else they can do then I would seek another opinion. And maybe even another. After that I would stop all medication and try alternative holistic approach. I would NEVER give up on myself. If nothing worked then I would approach the next part of my journey with as much positivity as I could find with the help & support of people I trust. Sending love & healing to you.💜
I, too, had a large pleural effusion and my first draining of it yielded 2.77 litres. It was on my right side. After 3 drainings of it in the hospital they installed a catheter in my rib cage so that my husband and I could drain it at home. In the meantime, I was on Carboplatin and Paclitaxel and they added Bevacizumab (Avastin) after the first 3 lines of that initial chemo combo.
My husband was a good nursing tech and we drained it regularly. After 8 months my pleural effusion was so decreased (less than 80 ml every 5 days) that they removed the catheter. The cancer was still visible on PET scans and I have been on one type of chemo or another now for two years. I have Primary Peritoneal OC.
I am still on Avastin. They tell me that the Avastin is likely what is keeping the pleural effusion at bay. My rib cage has healed up. I don't like the side effects of Avastin, but if it is the thing keeping the pleural effusion down, the side effects are worth it.
I hope you can get a second opinion. OC isn't for the faint of heart!
I have a new doctor in Europe now. I got Avastin, plus 3 more. On my scan after forth infusion shows that my pleural effusion still existing, I have a terrible side effects from Cisplatin and maybe from all. Oncologist wants me to continue chemo increases with 5-6 more. Beacausr I had a VATS I never have to receive drainage treatment.
My CA 125 decrease to 36 a month ago but still there. I am wondering if this think will ever go….
Someone get rid of pleural effusion or is true that will never go.
Thank you my dear friend! If there is some good news?!
Yes! He even given me his personal cellphone number if I need to contact him. I receive Bevacizumab that I was refused in Canada plus Gem plus Cisplatin. After five chemo I still have pleural effusion that is very disappointing…
Sorry you're not doing better. I have had 15 treatments with Bevacizumab with the parp. I'm experiencing huge fatigue now. Not sure where this is going to lead. Sending you good vibes. Our Healthcare system is in terrible trouble. It's not going to get any better for a while
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I don't know what to say/think.
Pleural effusion drain 
Pleural effusion 
Stop pursuing treatment, or weekly taxol
PIP Help
