Interventional pulmonologist Dr. Jed Gorden reviews malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are a common complication of lung cancer and some other cancers.
Helpful, although I found this too late. My wife died from stage 4 breast cancer in March 2021. Oncologist told me she should live for decades. She went downhill quickly, died 5 months after diagnosis (estrogen dependent only cancer). Toward the end, she was draining 2L per day of malignant fluid from her lungs (pleural effusion), and very short of breath all the time. To me it was wasting her body away, all her nutrients going into the fluid, and she was not replacing them. I got her home for hospice after a big struggle, and she died 2 days later (her albumin and sodium levels were very low at the hospital) after hospice doc told me he couldn't stabilize her at home. Her final night she didn't drain her lungs herself, so I wondered if I should do it for her, but she seemed so weak from the constant draining, I didn't know what to do. Her mom, a nursing home nurse, told me not to drain it, so I listened. The next morning she died in my arms. She could barely talk, the only coherent words she said that morning was "I love you too" to me. Worth more than gold. But still, I feel like I failed her, failed to keep her alive. I was the only one she allowed at the hospital with her, or the doctors. Should I have drained her lungs that last night? The cancer had spread to many parts of her body, but she was rejecting the pain meds.
Jeff, I'm so so sorry. Personally, I think absolutely you did the right thing. Please don't live thinking you failed her, you didn't, the cancer did. The fact that you can give this much specifics about her health is proof you not only didn't fail her but you took care of her. She died because nobody knows how to stop cancer's devastating effects once it takes hold. I hope you can be proud of yourself that you did everything to make her comfortable. It's not inappropriate to find comfort in knowing someone is no longer suffering another day when that is all that will be of living. Take care and thank you much for sharing on an unpopular yet needed topic. Janine, forum moderator
In case it helps anyone else, wife was feeling normal even when diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (due to size of tumor on breast that she said grew overnight), and older patients told her estrogen blockers were easy on the body and her experience wouldnt be difficult. But as soon as she started taking the estrogen blockers was when she started feeling sick. An oncologist friend suggested to me months later that it was tumor flare up from the blocker. Wife blamed the meds for her getting sicker, and those that suggested she needed them. Anyhow, if anyone else goes through that, that was when fluid began building up also and then the increasing drainage. And the drainage bags are not universal, they vary from hospital to hospital, which was another nightmare--trying to find drainage bags because hospital didn't have any. Even bought some off eBay because nobody could get me any.
@@CancergraceOrgmy mom is having pleural effusion ,currently admitted in a chest disease hospital ,but doctors are still unable to find out the causes for the effusion , it is almost one month passed that we are admitted in the hospital , have taken several CT ULTRASOUND, PET SCAN , FNAC CYTOLOGY TEST etc but still no idea , pls do help to save her.I can send u all the reports if u give me ur mail id, i m from India
Wow this pretty much exactly describes my pleural effusion that was brought on by hodgkins lymphoma. Only I was in really good shape so I didn't notice untill I tried running or climbing stairs. Day to day I felt fine
Hi, I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis. It's not uncommon to come into a new cancer diagnosis in good health...otherwise, including PE's that aren't causing much shortness of breath. I hope you're doing alright right now.
Hello, since a month i cant really breathe that good also i have symptoms that sometimes like no appetite, sweating while sleeping. Im scared to go to the doctors
Hi Wanderer, Pleural effusions are unfortunately pretty common in many types of cancer. Immediate action for dealing with a pleural effusion is to drain it no matter the type of cancer. The long term best way to deal with a plerual effusion caused by cancer is to treat the cancer. Treatment depends on the type of cancer. We have info about many types of cancer. Can I help finding the type of info you're looking for?
This was a very clear and helpful introductory explanation. Good job and thank you!
Helpful, although I found this too late. My wife died from stage 4 breast cancer in March 2021. Oncologist told me she should live for decades. She went downhill quickly, died 5 months after diagnosis (estrogen dependent only cancer). Toward the end, she was draining 2L per day of malignant fluid from her lungs (pleural effusion), and very short of breath all the time. To me it was wasting her body away, all her nutrients going into the fluid, and she was not replacing them. I got her home for hospice after a big struggle, and she died 2 days later (her albumin and sodium levels were very low at the hospital) after hospice doc told me he couldn't stabilize her at home. Her final night she didn't drain her lungs herself, so I wondered if I should do it for her, but she seemed so weak from the constant draining, I didn't know what to do. Her mom, a nursing home nurse, told me not to drain it, so I listened. The next morning she died in my arms. She could barely talk, the only coherent words she said that morning was "I love you too" to me. Worth more than gold. But still, I feel like I failed her, failed to keep her alive. I was the only one she allowed at the hospital with her, or the doctors. Should I have drained her lungs that last night? The cancer had spread to many parts of her body, but she was rejecting the pain meds.
Jeff, I'm so so sorry. Personally, I think absolutely you did the right thing. Please don't live thinking you failed her, you didn't, the cancer did. The fact that you can give this much specifics about her health is proof you not only didn't fail her but you took care of her. She died because nobody knows how to stop cancer's devastating effects once it takes hold. I hope you can be proud of yourself that you did everything to make her comfortable. It's not inappropriate to find comfort in knowing someone is no longer suffering another day when that is all that will be of living. Take care and thank you much for sharing on an unpopular yet needed topic. Janine, forum moderator
@@CancergraceOrg thank you. It was difficult to experience. She was barely 40 and we were together 20 years, have 5 year old.
@@JeffreyWillis800 feels proud on u brother , keep moving
In case it helps anyone else, wife was feeling normal even when diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (due to size of tumor on breast that she said grew overnight), and older patients told her estrogen blockers were easy on the body and her experience wouldnt be difficult. But as soon as she started taking the estrogen blockers was when she started feeling sick. An oncologist friend suggested to me months later that it was tumor flare up from the blocker. Wife blamed the meds for her getting sicker, and those that suggested she needed them. Anyhow, if anyone else goes through that, that was when fluid began building up also and then the increasing drainage. And the drainage bags are not universal, they vary from hospital to hospital, which was another nightmare--trying to find drainage bags because hospital didn't have any. Even bought some off eBay because nobody could get me any.
@@CancergraceOrgmy mom is having pleural effusion ,currently admitted in a chest disease hospital ,but doctors are still unable to find out the causes for the effusion , it is almost one month passed that we are admitted in the hospital , have taken several CT ULTRASOUND, PET SCAN , FNAC CYTOLOGY TEST etc but still no idea , pls do help to save her.I can send u all the reports if u give me ur mail id, i m from India
Wow this pretty much exactly describes my pleural effusion that was brought on by hodgkins lymphoma. Only I was in really good shape so I didn't notice untill I tried running or climbing stairs. Day to day I felt fine
Hi, I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis. It's not uncommon to come into a new cancer diagnosis in good health...otherwise, including PE's that aren't causing much shortness of breath. I hope you're doing alright right now.
Hello, since a month i cant really breathe that good also i have symptoms that sometimes like no appetite, sweating while sleeping. Im scared to go to the doctors
Hi, I'm sorry you're sick and worried. I hope you're able to see a doc soon and find you're better soon. Take care,
Please change the title of your video. You did not touch on cancer at all.
Hi Wanderer, Pleural effusions are unfortunately pretty common in many types of cancer. Immediate action for dealing with a pleural effusion is to drain it no matter the type of cancer. The long term best way to deal with a plerual effusion caused by cancer is to treat the cancer. Treatment depends on the type of cancer. We have info about many types of cancer. Can I help finding the type of info you're looking for?