Abrazane and fluid around lungs - SHARE Metastatic ...

SHARE Metastatic Breast Cancer

6,588 members8,129 posts

Abrazane and fluid around lungs

Staying_Positive profile image

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

Written by
Staying_Positive profile image
Staying_Positive
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
14 Replies
PatSailsbery profile image
PatSailsbery

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.

Clair19 profile image
Clair19 in reply to PatSailsbery

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!

NPmary profile image
NPmary

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.

PatSailsbery profile image
PatSailsbery in reply to NPmary

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.

Staying_Positive profile image
Staying_Positive in reply to PatSailsbery

Pat, were you on Abraxane when you had your plural effusions?

PatSailsbery profile image
PatSailsbery in reply to Staying_Positive

NPmary, No, I have never been on Abraxane.

NPmary profile image
NPmary in reply to PatSailsbery

Pat I am so happy to read this, that the effusion does not mean cancer :) keep us informed. Blessings, Mary.

Clair19 profile image
Clair19 in reply to NPmary

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!

Clair19 profile image
Clair19 in reply to Clair19

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 🙏

NPmary profile image
NPmary in reply to Clair19

Thank you.

Staying_Positive profile image
Staying_Positive

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

NPmary profile image
NPmary in reply to Staying_Positive

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.

Clair19 profile image
Clair19 in reply to Staying_Positive

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.

Arkait profile image
Arkait

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.

You may also like...

anybody with lung fluid experience?

MBC. Has Letrozol reduced or eliminated lung fluid for anybody here? Has anybody here had a...

Fluid on both lungs

to remove the fluid from my lungs. My surgeon has said that it is unusual to have fluid on both so...

Interstitial lung disease

bases of both lungs in the peripheral lungs. I know this can be caused by Ibrance but it’s very...

Ibrance & Lung Health

I am wondering if anyone has experienced shortness of breath/lung problems taking Ibrance plus...

Lung issues with IBRANCE

then come off it for a couple of weeks...Has anyone experienced this and what decisions were...