> Surgery as Treatment Option for Lung Cancer - Risks of Lung Cancer Surgery, Questions to Ask your Doctor, Surgery Pictures
(October 9th, 2009)

> Researchers Seek Clinical Trial Patients for New Mesothelioma Drug: Gefitinib
(September 25th, 2009)

> Secondary Cancer in the Lymph Nodes - Role of Lymph Nodes in the Body & the Lymphatic System
(September 18th, 2009)

> Talcum Powder Slows Down Growth of Lung Cancer Tumors
(September 15th, 2009)

> Carbon Nanotubes that Look and Behave like Asbestos could cause Pleural Mesothelioma
(September 11th, 2009)

> Chest X-Rays Can Detect Early Lung Cancer, but also Alert many False-Positive Results
(September 7th, 2009)

> Peritoneal Mesothelioma – Cancer of the Peritoneum or Linings of the Abdomen - Symptoms of Peritoneal Lung Cancer, Role of Asbestos & Treatment Options
(August 31st, 2009)

> History and Advent of Cancer Treating Chemotherapy – Nitrogen Mustard as Anti-Cancer drug, Invention of Red Clover to treat Respiratory & Malignant Lung Cancers
(August 30th, 2009)

> Intra-peritoneal Therapy – Delivery of Chemotherapy Drugs in to Abdominal Cavity, Port and Catheter
(August 30th, 2009)

> Chemical Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions or Fluids in Lungs
(August 26th, 2009)

> Evaluation of Pleural Thickening and its Effects on Development of Malignant Lung Cancer
(August 23rd, 2009)

> Chest X-Ray – Uses of Chest X-Rays, How to Prepare for X-Ray Session, Performance, Risks & Results, and Normal versus Abnormal Results
(August 15th, 2009)

> Multi-cystic Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum - Examinaton of the Pelvis, Abdominal Mass using Ultrasound, Process of Hysterectomy by a Gynecologist
(August 5th, 2009)

* > Mesothelioma Lung Cancer & Effects on Army, Navy & Marine Veterans - Asbestos Exposure in Battleships, Aircraft Carriers, Submarines and Navy Ships
(May 18th, 2009)

* Ruth Phillips - 10 Year Mesothelioma Survivor Living Large - Discussion of Immuno-Augmentive Therapy & Other Cancer Treatments
(May 5th, 2009)

* Prevention of Lung Cancer when You are at Risk, or when You Already Have Lung Cancer
(April 27th, 2009)

* Research Suggests Vitamin D Plays a Large Role in Preventing and Fighting Lung Cancer
(April 21st, 2009)

* What Types of Lung Cancer Exist? Differences between Small Cell & Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer
(April 15th, 2009)

* Steve Lee, 63, from Reading UK, Completes Half Marathon with Asbestos Lung Cancer
(April 8th, 2009)

* Basic & Advanced Symptoms of Mesothelioma & Common Misconceptions
(March 28th, 2009)

* Choosing Your Mesothelioma Doctor - Medical & Radiation Oncologists, Laparoscopic Surgeons
(February 4th, 2009)

* Study Suggests Computed Tomography (CT) Scans Increase Risk for Cancer Development - Mesothelioma News
(November 30th, 2008)

* Diagnosing Mesothelioma & Pathological Testing
(February 6th, 2009)

* Eat Fruits & Vegetables - Prevent Cancer and Stay Healthy
(January 12th, 2009)

* Gardening & Good Diet Leads to Less Lung Cancer Risk
(January 7th, 2008)

* PhotoDynamic Therapy - Types of Mesothelioma Treatments
(March 18th, 2008)

* Surviving Lung Cancer - Thoracic Surgeons Roll Out New Tumor Removal Procedure
(January 20th, 2009)

* Timing of Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Options - Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy
(February 5th, 2008)

-> Mesothelioma is rarely developed by young people, and it has no relation with smoking, despite of rumours about this. Infact, Mesothelioma can take over 40 years to develop, before full diagnosis is realized!

-> There are about 200 - 500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma each year, making it a very rare disease. Furthermore, peritoneal mesothelioma measures at about 20 - 30% of all mesothelioma cases in any given year. Approximately 54.7% of all the diagnoses are males and the rest are females. The median age when peritoneal mesothelioma develops is 65 - 69 years.

-> Fluid accumulated in the abdomen (also known as Ascites) is detected and removed through Paracentesis (a procedure that drains fluid from the abdomen of the body by the use of needles).

(View Archives)
 

Chemical Pleurodesis for Malignant Pleural Effusions or Fluids in Lungs

(August 26th, 2009)

This image shows the lung linings in the pleura and the pleural space without any build up of fluids, with a normal length between the parietal & visceral pleura, as well as normal functioning lungs. Pleural effusion is the abnormal accumulation of fluid-like substances around the pleura which is the area between the parietal and visceral pleura that covers the lungs and surrounds the chest walls. When this fluid accumulates or starts to form in the pleura, the patient can suffer from dyspnea (shortness of breath), have difficulty in breathing and have a faster heart beat rate, which makes life very unpleasant. Note that these symptoms do not occur suddenly, they tend to develop over a gradual period of time and pleural effusions or the fluids in the pleura can be detected via a chest x-ray or more advanced screening methods such as Computed Tomography (CT) scans. The image on the left shows the lung linings in the pleura and the pleural space without any build up of fluids, with a normal length between the parietal & visceral pleura, as well as normal functioning lungs.

This image shows the lung linings in the pleura with the pleural space accumulated with fluids between the pleural spaces (parietal & visceral pleura) as well as an arrow showing pleural effusions. The treatment designed to stop the accumulation of fluids in the pleura and help relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease is known as pleurodesis. Pleurodesis seals the open spaces between the parietal & visceral pleura with a chemical such that the two areas become attached to each other and stick together. The type of chemical used includes sterile talc or chemotherapy powder. The concept behind pleurodesis treatment is that since there are no spaces between the parietal & visceral pleura, fluids cannot form or accumulate between these spaces due to lack of space. And usually pleurodesis is a quick procedure that can be done at your local hospital; however if you have more fluids accumulated than normal, you will have to stay overnight in the hospital for full drainage of fluids. The image on the right shows the lung linings in the pleura with the pleural space accumulated with fluids between the pleural spaces (parietal & visceral pleura) as well as an arrow showing pleural effusions.

How is Pleurodesis Performed?

This image shows how the chest tube is inserted in to the pleural space and how ascites or pleural fluids are extracted from the pleural cavities.One of the ways pleurodesis is performed is via use of a chest tube that is placed in the lower part of the chest, near the underarm. The job of the chest tube is to collect & drain out fluids from the pleural spaces in to a collection contained called Pleur-e-vac. This container is usually connected to a suction to allow adequate & smooth drainage of the fluid without having to remove the chest tube from the area near the underarm twice. Once all the fluids have been extracted from the pleural spaces and accumulated in the collection container, a solution of talc is applied to seal the empty spots between the parietal & visceral pleura.

Pleurodesis is usually performed using a procedure called Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) surgery during which a thoracoscope is inserted in to your chest through a small incision made while you are under a general anesthetic. A thorascope is a tiny fiber-optic camera that lets the surgeon see the surgery equipment that is inserted through your chest to rain out the pleural fluids that have accumulated. Once the drainage process is complete, a talc solution or relevant chemical agent is inserted in to the chest tube to clamp together the parietal and the visceral pleura such that there is no empty space between the two. Your surgeon might ask you to change positions and flip backwards in order to allow the talc solution to settle in well and distribute thoroughly in the chest. This image shows how the chest tube is inserted in to the pleural space and how ascites or pleural fluids are extracted from the pleural cavities.

Symptoms Expected to Occur after Chemical Pleurodesis

Carrying out a chemical pleurodesis function comes with its own set of side effects including:

- Fever occuring 2-4 hours after drainage of fluids

- Feeling of pain around your underarm area where the chest tube was inserted or when taking a deep breath

- You must not take any anti- inflammatory agents or Ibuprofen for at least 48 hours after the pleurodesis operation.

- You will feel irritation which is important to close the empty space between the visceral & parietal pleura, so do not try to scratch away the irritation, let it do its course of work.

- You might easily become constipated if you are taking pain medicine.

 

 

 

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