Partially collapsed lung and fluid drain

Dear Ciara,

Thanks for getting in touch, I’m Heidi one of the Cancer Information Nurses here on the Macmillan Support Line.  A warm welcome to the online community, I hope you will find it a useful source of support.

It sounds as though you both have been through a lot and I am sorry to hear that your husband’s kidney cancer has advanced.

As we don’t have access to anyone’s medical records, we’re unable to assess what your husband’s symptoms are likely to be, however based on the symptoms you are describing we would always advise seeking urgent support.

It is important that if your husband is finding it hard to breathe, he should speak to his hospital team, GP, or NHS 111 today.  You don’t have to wait until the meeting with your oncologist next Tuesday.  

Your husband’s specialist team would never mind you being cautious and if something doesn’t feel right to you then it is important that he is assessed.

If his symptoms worsen, or you are concerned then please contact 999.

Being short of breath can be very uncomfortable and we have some information about managing breathlessness that may be helpful.

There are many ways to manage and cope with breathlessness including medicines, breathing and relaxation techniques, oxygen and complimentary therapies.  

Please feel comfortable talking to your husband’s specialist team about the difficulties he is experiencing, he shouldn’t have to try and manage breathlessness without support, and it can be distressing for you too.  

Please don’t hesitate to get in contact again if we can support you further. I hope this information has been useful.

If you feel you may benefit from chatting to one of our team, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call the Macmillan Support Line. We also have a welcoming friends and family forum which you may find supportive.

Best wishes and take care,

Heidi

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

Ref/SM/HC

Thank you Heidi for your reply.  We immediately referred back to the Oncology team and my husbands lung had completely collapsed under a pleural effusion.  They have been constantly draining off around 7 litres of fluid over the last 4 days and it keeps re-filling.  Hope to see what his Oncologist can tell us tomorrow about what is going on in his body.  Very concerned.