5: Treatments for a malignant pleural effusion

The main symptom of a malignant pleural effusion is difficulty in breathing. There are a number of ways of trying to help improve this symptom. This chapter will focus on the procedures that doctors and nurses can perform to help drain the fluid away. However there are other ways of trying to relieve breathing difficulties. Your medical team will discuss all the options with you. 

• A small hand held fan

Cool air blown over the skin of the face can help relieve breathlessness at times of difficulty (e.g. after exercise). It is a really simple trick that can really help. 

• Low doses of medications like morphine or sedatives

Finding it hard to breathe can be very distressing and worrying. The distress of being breathless makes the breathlessness worse in a vicious circle. Some medications are very good at relieving the felling of breathless and can be very calming. A small dose of morphine or a sedative can be really helpful. 

• Oxygen treatment

Having oxygen at home can help when the breathlessness is at its worse (e.g. after exercise) and can help return the breathing to normal. Nowadays, oxygen can be used in light weight backpacks which can help people with breathing difficulties get out and about. 

Draining the fluid away

One the main ways of relieving difficulty of breathing is to drain the fluid away and there are a number of ways to try and do this. The next section will describe these options in more detail.