Pleurisy with lung cancer: description, causes, symptoms and treatment

Virtually all pathological processes that occur in the pleural area of the lung are of a secondary nature. These are not separate diseases. As a rule, they are a kind of complication of a more serious ailment. With oncology, fluid can also accumulate in the pleural area in large enough volumes. In such cases, there are problems with breathing. Pleurisy with oncology of the lungs interferes with the natural movement of the organs. As a result, respiratory failure develops.

Main reasons

Let's consider why there is a pleurisy of the lungs with oncology, symptoms, treatment, a healthy lifestyle for ailment and so on. First of all it is necessary to identify the main causes of the disease. It is worth noting that at the last stage of cancer there is swelling of the tissues. It is not so easy to eliminate it. There is an edema at a time when the stores of nutrients in the body are consumed. This is what leads to death in most cases.

Pleurisy with lung cancer occurs as a result of:

1. Complications that develop in patients after removal of respiratory organs or after irradiation.
2. Spreading into the lymph nodes of the primary tumor. This, in turn, makes it difficult to drain the liquid. As a result, it accumulates in the pleural region.
3. With a decrease in protein levels, a decrease in oncotic pressure may occur . It also provokes the development of pleurisy.
4. Increase the permeability of the pleura.
5. Decrease in pressure in the pleural area, as well as the accumulation of fluid in it. A similar phenomenon occurs when the lumen of the bronchi is blocked.

Features of the disease

To identify pleurisy with oncology of the lungs, you need to know the characteristics of the ailment. The development of this disease can occur for a short period of time. Tissue swelling occurs in just a few hours. It is very important to recognize the ailment in time and provide the patient with first aid.

The first sign of the disease is a bubbling in the chest. When breathing, a person may lack air. In this case, wheezing and dyspnea may occur. Gradually, the swelling increases in size and there is a so-called motor activity. It is very difficult for a patient to find a comfortable position in this state. Skin covers of the patient acquire a bluish tinge. There is also a strong cough with sputum. If these symptoms occur, you should immediately seek help from the nearest hospital.

Pleuritis of the lungs with oncology can develop for a long time. In this case, therapy of the disease can give a positive result. After appropriate treatment, the patient has a chance to live relatively long. The fluid accumulates in the pleural area gradually. This, as a rule, is not felt at the very beginning. Most often, pathology is detected at random. In this case, the patient begins to worry about the symptoms described below.

Symptoms of the disease

Pleurisy with oncology of the lungs has some peculiarities, which allows us to identify a complication in time. The main symptoms of the disease include:

1. Dry cough. At the same time, slight spitting can be noted.
2. Heaviness, as well as a feeling of compression in the sternum.
3. Shortness of breath, which is progressive. Gradually it becomes more intense and arises even with insignificant loads.
4. Pain sensations localized in the area of the diseased organ.

How is diagnostics performed?

How is pleurisy diagnosed in oncology? Metastatic symptoms can almost immediately determine the disease. In this case, the examination must be performed by an oncologist. First of all, the specialist should interview the patient about the presence of any abnormalities related to the general condition and well-being of the patient. This allows you to determine the main signs of the disease.

After this, the doctor, as a rule, conducts a visual examination, as well as palpatory examination of the organs and thorax. In some cases, an X-ray is prescribed. Pictures of the respiratory system allow you to accurately determine the place of edema of the tissues.

To determine the main causes of the development of pleurisy allows computed tomography. In certain situations, an additional ultrasound of the chest. A puncture is also done. This allows an analysis of fluid taken from the pleural area.

The main stages of therapy

What to do if there was fluid in the lungs with oncology? The causes of pleurisy are different. Therapy depends on certain factors. First of all, doctors determine the cause of pleurisy, and then prescribe treatment. If the cause lies in the primary tumor, then if possible, it is removed. However, you first need to determine its localization. It is worth noting that the treatment of pleurisy requires the timely removal of fluid. This is the primary and basic procedure that allows you to eliminate shortness of breath and significantly improve the patient's well-being.

After establishing the etiologic factor of the disease, the doctor can prescribe a treatment. Neoplasms of a malignant nature are very sensitive to chemotherapy. It is for this reason that the therapy is performed with the use of cytostatic medications. Most often, this treatment allows you to eliminate tissue swelling.

If the patient has an inoperable tumor, then a therapy is prescribed that can eliminate the main symptoms of the disease. In this case, pleurodesis and pleurocentesis are used.

The use of medicines

Pleurisy in cancer patients is often enough. To treat the disease, as well as to eliminate the main signs used all sorts of medications. First of all, patients are prescribed cardiac glycosides. These drugs can enhance myocardial contraction. The list of such medicines includes "Storafanin". In addition, medications are prescribed that can expand the smooth muscles of the bronchi, for example, "Eufillin." Diuretics are often used: Furosemide and others. They allow to withdraw fluid from the pleural area together with urine.

If the tumor is malignant, the use of medication with pleurisy does not give results. However, it is possible to alleviate the patient's condition by pumping out the liquid.

What is a pleurocentesis

Pleurocentesis is an operation that allows you to remove exudate mechanically. During the procedure, the doctor introduces a thin needle and makes a puncture in the pleural cavity. Of course, the operation is not very pleasant, but it helps to alleviate the condition of the patient. After the puncture, another needle is inserted into the cavity, connected to the electric suction tube. This device allows you to remove the liquid. After surgery, the patient can breathe normally.

The disadvantage of this procedure is that after a while the fluid accumulates again in the pleural cavity, since the main cause of the development of the disease is not eliminated. Repeated conduct of such an operation is undesirable, since the patient's condition can only worsen. In addition, spikes can occur. Such phenomena significantly complicate the process of carrying out the operation.

What is pleurodesis

This is another procedure that is performed in the presence of malignant neoplasm. In this case, the pleural cavity is filled with special medicinal compounds that do not allow the liquid to accumulate.

It is worth noting that Plevrodez is very popular. After all, the procedure allows for more effective therapy for pleurisy, and also does not allow its further development.

What forecast?

Treatment of pleurisy with oncology is not an easy task. After all, much depends on the factors that caused the disease. The consequences of therapy directly depend on the diagnosis. Treatment of ailment is often difficult due to the presence of malignant formations. There is pleurisy, usually in difficult stages of the disease.

The prognosis is unfavorable in the presence of metastatic lesions, which occur in the course of the advanced course of the disease. In other cases, there is no life threat if the fluid has been completely removed from the pleural area. However, the patient should be examined regularly to avoid relapse.

HLS in treatment

In the treatment of malignant neoplasms, HLS is often used. However, therapy must be carried out in a complex. Otherwise, there will be no positive result. An experienced doctor can tell you which means of a healthy life-style can be used, and which ones should be discarded. It is worth noting that in cancerous tumors, the use of non-traditional medicine is allowed:

1. Tincture, which includes akonit Dzhungarian. This plant has an antitumor effect. The drug is usually used for grinding, and also taken internally. The dosage is determined by the doctor.
2. Massage of the chest. During the procedure, the heart area should be avoided. Massage should be done with the use of essential oils. The procedure allows to improve the blood supply of tissues and to facilitate breathing.

In conclusion

The most terrible disease is oncology. Cancer pleurisy is a complication that occurs when malignant neoplasms develop in the lungs. For this disease, there are certain symptoms that allow us to identify the presence of pathology in a timely manner. The lack of therapy can lead to more severe consequences, up to a lethal outcome.