What is Pleural Effusion and What Does it Feel Like?

While the term “pleural effusion” sounds like a big scary word, in layman terms it simply means “an abnormal amount of fluid, around a lung.” The “pleura” is a membrane that lines the surface of the lungs, as well as the inside of the chest wall, outside the lungs. In pleural effusions, fluid accumulates in the space between the layers of the pleura.

Typically, we all have approximately one teaspoon of watery fluid in our pleural space; which allows our lungs to move smoothly, in our chest cavity, when we breathe. A pleural effusion occurs when this fluid is increased. The actual condition of pleural effusion is not necessarily dangerous; typically, the danger is imposed, by the underlying cause. There are many serious causes for PE, but in my case, it is caused by my medication.

Apparently Dasatinib, also known as Sprycel, is the culprit. My oncologist said that he often sees pleural effusion develop, when a patient reaches PRCU; this PCRU is determined, by a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction test. A negative PCR means that this particular blood test was unable to detect the BCR-ABL protein, in your bone marrow. This does not mean that you are “cured” but it does mean that you have reached the deepest, possible response to your medication; which is a good thing.

What does having pleural effusion feel like? For me, I began to notice that I was a bit out of breath, after dancing. Typically I could dance to three or four songs without being too winded, or needing a break. As my PE developed, I noticed that I could barely make it through one song, without being totally winded. Of course, I just figured that I was out of shape, and needed to dance more. It never occurred to me that I was actually short of breath for a “reason.”

This continued for several weeks, and I began to notice that I was short of breath going up our stairs, at home, too. Joe kept encouraging me to walk the loop, around our neighborhood, and I kept finding reasons not to. I could not even fathom walking down to the end of our drive way, let alone the two mile trek around the neighborhood. In some ways, I felt like a great big baby, looking back, I can’t believe that I was actually able to ignore the obvious signs, and never even consider that I was developing PE.

I am really good at denying the fact that I have CML, and all of the side effects that go along with it.

So, back to what it feels like, to have PE. The earliest and most obvious symptom for me was shortness of breath. The other symptom that developed over time and remains is a pain in my lower left, abdominal cavity. When I went to see my onc, I asked him if it could be my spleen, despite the fact that I didn't feel any enlargement.  He promptly told me no, that it was PE.

This pain has remained and hurts more when I yawn, or take a deep breath. It is a sharp pain, about three to four inches below my left rib cage, on the outer side of my abdomen, and into my back. It seems worse in the morning and is more noticeable when I lie down. The best way in which I can describe it, is that it feels like blister, full of fluid. You know that “full” feeling that a blister creates? And then, when I breathe, it feels as though I am pushing on that blister. It is more like pressure, than actual pain; the pain is caused by the pressure of expanding my lung, in a space that is now partially filled with extra fluid. If that makes any sense!

Am I in any immediate danger? I do not think so; I can breathe, and I do not have a fever, so most likely, I do not have an infection. I have been off of Sprycel for two and a half weeks and there does seem to be some improvement in the shortness of breath; despite the fact that the pain remains, when I take a deep breath.

So what now? It is my and my oncologist’s belief that I will be able to resume my medication, and control this pleural effusion. We also do not see any need to actively treat the PE, as we know the cause, and it does not impose an immediate threat to my health; it is mostly just a nuisance. I do not have congestive heart failure, pneumonia, liver disease, renal disease, lung disease, or any inflammation. I do not have a fever or an infection and truly believe that the procedure they use to remove the fluid, could likely cause me more problems that the actual PE. I am also one of those people that prefer not to take medications, unless absolutely necessary. People often die from the cure, not the disease; I think I will just wait this one out, as opposed to having a procedure that puts a tube into my chest and lung. Time will tell…….

So, it all boils down to weighing the pros and cons; is the risk worth the reward?  Is a little Pleural Effusion worth getting the upper hand on my leukemia and achieving PCRU? In my opinion, the answer is without a doubt; yes!