Has anyone experienced fluid around the lung while taking Abrazane?
I started out with a plural effusion, had a plurex put in. Very little fluid came out with the first 4-5 drainage sessions . Stated Abrazane and with each drainage there is a lot of fluid draining. No one can tell me why this is happening. Am very concerned.
Has anyone had this experience?
Thank you!
Carol
Staying_positive, I have not been on Abrazane, however I have had chronic problems with pleural effusion in my left lung. As I understand it, chemo can cause fluid build-up. To address the problem, I have had 4 thoracentis procedures and I had Pleurodisis surgery which was to drain fluid and treat the lung with Talc to prevent future fluid build-up. Unfortunately, my lung was fibrous (stuck closed) so they couldn't do the Talc treatment so in addition to the chest tube that had already been placed, the surgeon inserted a pleurx catheter. The chest tube was removed one week later, when I was still inpatient. The catheter remained in place for several weeks, and was removed after five consecutive drains produced less than 5 mg of fluid. Of course, later the fluid built back up. We aren't doing anything currently to drain the fluid but will when and if my oxygen saturation is compromised. Please know, I am an exception and trust you will not have significant problems. Best wishes to you.
I have plural effusion on rt lung with nodules. Even when I had pneumonia I only had slight pain and problems breathing. My o2 level stable between 98-97. He never requested a plural cath, they can cause more problems. I’m a Nurse but do believe that air introducesd to cancer fuels it. Just my opinion, no medical material to support that. You have to do what you feel and your Dr. feels is the correct course of treatment. I’m Her2 negative mbc to spine and rt lung. On Ibrance 100 mg. I hope you feel better and I will pray for you!
Carol l am on Ibrance not abrazane, l have bilateral pleural effusion that developed after starting Ibrance. I assume they are from the cancer not the med. The docs don't like to say it's from cancer if they don't have cells to prove it. Ask your doc if they checked the fluid from your effusion (they always do). Sometimes they know from this but generally speaking if there isn't a good reason like heart failure to have an effusion and you have cancer it's probity from the cancer. It could resolve entirely with treatment or just stay manageable. Wishing the best for you. Blessings, Mary.
NPmary , I disagree with your comment that plural effusion is from cancer and not treatment. I have had fluid drained and tested four times and they all came back with no cancer cells. Also, I had a lung biopsy which came back negative. In addition, all PET and CT scans do not show lung mets.
Pat, were you on Abraxane when you had your plural effusions?
NPmary, No, I have never been on Abraxane.
Pat I am so happy to read this, that the effusion does not mean cancer 
keep us informed. Blessings, Mary.
I agree with you, the effusion is from the cancer not Ibrance. Mine has actually gotten better since on the Ibrance. I’m glad you cleaned up what medicine she was talking about, I had never heard of what she was just spelling wrong. Thanks for clearing that up, and great post. We all need help from who can explain the best the ones going through this Journey!
Again not all plural effusion is Cancer that is correct. In my case I was going by was caused by mbc in the lung. Thanks 🙏
I am so happy to read this as well. I do have cancer cells in the plural region but had a plurex put in and drained everything. For four weeks after the plurex was inserted there was no fluid coming out , they wanted to remove the drain but I decided I wanted to be sure so had one more drain. Bam! The fluid started to flow in high amounts. This was a month after starting Abraxane. No one has answers as to why this is happening. My oncologist nurse said they see this happening with some chemo but didn’t think Abraxane was one of the chemo drugs. Of course my mind keeps going to the dark side.
Trying to stay positive!
Carol
Carol, l am so sorry to read this. Good for you that you listened to your body and drained the infusion! How do you feel? Do you have much pain and shortness of breath? I don't have much shortness of breath but l am up with back pain frm the effusion often. I hope you get better soon.
May I ask what stage they are saying you are? The reason I ask is I didn’t see all your posts. It’s totally normal for your mind to as you say go to the dark side. Stay positive, I did for 18 years when I was first diagnosed just returned last summer. Sounds like it’s just in the plural sack which is good, because it’s slow growing. Keep your mind busy you sound very positive.
I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in 2013, stage IV just weeks ago. Have pleural effusion, right lung.
Have catheter inserted and drained by now about 4 times. Breathing made much easier, but catheter
very uncomfortable for me, especially lying down, which is making it hard to sleep well. I just started
Letrozol 2 and a half weeks ago. I also take an alternative substance called Carnivora (might be snake oil,
who knows , I take it for the hell of it, a little hope of a "cure." which is likely a pipe dream.) I have no side
effects from Letrozol, except fatigue is my general state. I am 81. I have had a lot of depression, because
stage IV cancer confrontation still new to me, and I have a lot of affairs to wrap up before I am at peace
with things. This site is a godsend, for me. It is hard to find company on such a trip as we are on.
The artist 
I had the Pleural Effusion drained yesterday. Is there a good reference to interpret the results and if the fluid is cancerous? 
Everolimus and Exemestane 
Liver, lungs and spine mets
