Pleurodesis

I'm not sure whether it is possible to do a second time.  I have a tumour in my right lung and also in the pleura.  I am not sure which is the primary.  I also have thickening of the pleura lining so I don't think I have much lung function in that lung now.  I had it done 2 years ago and unforntunately mine didn't work either.  The Doc did not suggest trying again, he said we could drain again but obviously carried a infection risk.  He suggested at the time that if I had a lot of benefit ie breathing better then he would drain again but he would put a permanent drain in the chest.  I hadn't noticed a lot of difference and decided that going for the permanent drain would therefore still be an infection risk and a lot of hassle.  

I do now wonder if I tried again whether by keeping the fluid down the thickening wouldn't have happened but I have no real idea and its too late now.  

I did also have cancer in the lymph nodes in the chest but this seemed to disappear with my first lot of chemo which was cisplatin/pemetrexted.  

I don't know if this helps but its more information from someone else.  If you want to know anymore just ask.

Jeanne

Hi there,

I am assuming that you are both talking about Talc Pleurodosis??? Where they throw a tub of Johnson's Baby Powder into your pleura to stick it to the ribs?? (Sorry I always had that vision). I had this done in St Georges in Tooting in January 2014 and have had considerable thickening of the pleura since then - in fact it shows up on the PET scans but apparently is almost like scar tissue. There is quite a deal of info re having this done again if it breaks down. It is, apparently, reasonably uncommon to do this BUT can and has been done two or three times to people. SO I would have no hesitation in having another done, if I needed it, in the future.

Makes you feel as if you've been kicked by a horse BUT without the fluid pumping about saves it spreading cancer cells around.

All the very best.

Love and Hugs Diz xxx

Hi Diz,  I hadn't thought about no fluid flopping about might be a bonus but another point of view.  My only issue is that I do get pain from it or at least that is what the Doc is telling me.  I get pain underneath the rib cage, I think it is pressure on the nerves but not too sure.  

Jeanne

Janice did not have the fluid issue but had a pneumothorax (air in the cavity) so the lung won't work. She had the talc but then had another pneumothorax and they were all set to repeat the talc (much to her joy as now she knew how uncomfortable it was) when the drain fell out and as she was stable at the time they would watch and wait. She still has a small pneumothorax and so has been told not to fly anymore.

<<hugs>>

Steve

Hi again Jeanne, Yes you would be getting pain from the pressure of the fluid build-up. They did a CT biopsy on me first, which was a disaster (pebble dashed the room with blood) - they punctured my lung and from there on I was in agony for 3 weeks until admitted to the local hospital which drained 3 litres off me first. Then got xferred to St Georges in Tooting and they did the VATS Pleurodosis and although I got an infection afterwards - it has held. SO very grateful for the procedure in the end. What did Jane Fonda say ?? " No pain No gain" !!??

As I said before sometimes it need to be repeated BUT has worked for me for 3 and a bit years - thank goodness.

All the very best.

Love and Hugs Diz xxx

Hi Jeanne, SO sorry I had not remembered you had already had one done??! Like you I believe I have nerve damage there too. I can no longer walk my dogs because of the pain still with me. BUT I still view it as a small price to pay for what they did. Again "no pain no gain"

Love and Hugs Diz xxx

Hi I have had the procedure twice once in April 2016 then October 2016 I was getting breathless again so knew I had fluid again. In November I had close to 4 litres drained and the talc put in again I am hoping this time it has worked. I was told that I could have it numerous times if my lung was not collapsed. My lung doctor did say thou that if I had fluid building up again maybe it was a time to talk about a permanent drain being fitted which I don't really want. 

Thanks for everyone's replies, they are really useful.

Dad now has an infection and until the respiratory team are back on the ward we won't know much more until then. The drain will be clamped today for 24 hours and a scan carried out tomorrow to see if his lung re-inflates. If it does then all is "good"; however if the lung doesn't re-inflate own it's own it could mean the disease has progressed. I did ask what they could mean moving forward but the nurse said that would be a decision for the respiratory team and then dad's oncologist.

He is in a lot of pain because of the drain and he feeling really fed up and not talkative at visiting times.

We managed to have a chat with the doctor this afternoon and dad's chest drain has been taken out and he hopefully should get home tomorrow, subject to his infection markers being down and after a chest x-ray.

He did say that he now has a collapsed lung, which wasn't picked up before he was let home after the pleural effusion in January. When I questioned this the doctor simply said "it's just one of those things" which I wasn't happy about at all, but due to dad being in a ward I was restricted to what I could say.

In essence, if this had been picked up in January then we would have known that pleurodesis would not have worked moving forward and should not have been attempted this week.

It is now highly likely the fluid will come back and they an option would be to fit a tube so he can drain the fluid at home.

Is his prognosis likely to be affected now his lung is trapped?

While your news for now sounds good and hope you manage to get him home, not always the easiest when it is not a normal working day, I wonder why you think the collapsed lung would have meant that pleurodesis would not have been appropriate, The Oxford hospitals produce this leaflet which explains this a bit more.

<<hugs>>

Steev