Chest X-Ray Results

I went yesterday for another chest x-ray on my left lung. It showed that the lung still had not fully returned to normal and there was a little fluid found but was no worse from my last x-ray on Monday. The radiologist called after he looked at the results. He said that the lung may not return fully.

Previously he referred to this as "trapped lung". When I looked up what this means, I found that the condition occurs when the lung is covered preventing its expansion to the chest wall, leaving a persistent fluid-filled pleural space. There are a number of conditions that prevent the lung from expanding.

The radiologist said that because I was comfortable with the chest tube in, he'll leave it there and I can talk to my oncologist on Friday what his plans are for further treatment. I'm comfortable with it in because I know that it's draining fluid on a consistent basis and that the fluid isn't building up around my lung without my knowing. It also allows me to breathe because the fluid is coming out instead of staying in.

Friday will be an emotional day. Prior to going for my second chemo treatment, I will have labs and meet with the oncologist. I will more than likely find out the results of the lung fluid analysis. I will find out if more cancer is causing the fluid around my lungs. My heart tells me that the fluid developed there from all of the excessive drainage that I had from surgery. I pray so very, very hard that I'm right in this diagnosis. Friday will be a very sad day or an exceptionally elated day.