Information regarding fluid around heart

Good afternoon Mamamiab5447f, 

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to our online community.   

My name’s Karla, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line. 

There’s so much information to take in during appointments, you’re not alone in forgetting to ask some questions. 

Here on the support line, we’re separate from the NHS and don’t have access to your medical records. However, we’ll try to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. 

Chemotherapy can cause pericardial effusion – a condition where fluid collects around the heart. When small and causing no symptoms, no treatment is needed. It can resolve over time. However, follow up with a physical examination and/or an echocardiogram would usually be recommended. The hope is this will go away itself and won’t affect you.  

Sometimes the fluid can press on the heart affecting its ability to pump blood. Symptoms could be chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting or dizziness, change in skin colour (pale), heart palpitations, fast pulse or confusion/agitation. This would be an emergency, and you’d call 999 immediately. 

We’d recommend calling your consultant via their secretary or your nurse specialist (if you have one) to talk through what’s happening and the plan moving forward.  

I hope this information helps. 

Sometimes it can be good to talk through what’s happening with us. On our helpline we offer a variety of support where you can talk through what’s going on.  

Take care and best wishes, 

Karla (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 send us an email or use webchat. 

Ref: KS/KR