hope4dad
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My dad has been taking Tarceva since November of 2013. His fluid initially started off as a straw colored pleural fluid and now has been taking on more of a darker color. What is this indicative of? His lung oxygenation rate is quite good .. it is almost 100%. I haven't noticed much difference in him since him and my mom went on vacation for a week or two. He gets 150 CC drained a week from a pleurx catheter. The thing that is baffling me is the color change of the pleural fluid? it has not been an extreme color change in a week or anything but more of a gradual change. Thanks for any input.
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Reply # - April 22, 2014, 01:03 PM
Reply To: Dark brown pleural fluid ?
In the comments section of Dr. West's post on pleural effusions he says straw color to rusty tea color are normal (I can't copy the comments section, wordpress issue) http://cancergrace.org/lung/2007/03/17/intro-to-pleural-effusions/
Dr. West stated, "There are a lot of things that can discolor pleural fluid, including infection and blood. Blood, in turn, can come from many sources, including cancer. The most important tests to evaluate why pleural fluid has changed color are the lab tests on the fluid itself. These lab tests can differentiate two broad categories of fluids, transudates and exudates. Each of these groups themselves then have many causes, amongst which lung cancer is only one. Additional tests on the fluid are then guided by these initial results. Cytology (looking at cells under microscope) can help with looking for cancer, cultures can help with looking for infection, and so on." http://cancergrace.org/topic/cola-colored-fluid-from-lungs
It's never wrong to call and ask questions of the oncologist group in charge of your dad's care.
I hope it's nothing,
Janine
Reply # - April 22, 2014, 07:19 PM
Reply To: Dark brown pleural fluid ?
I agree that it's not likely to be a significant issue at all. The amount of protein or possibly some blood in the fluid is likely to be the leading factor, but I would say it's unlikely to be clinically significant.
Good luck.
-Dr. West