fluid around the heart and found cancer cell

[LTZ]

My mom is now in a Detriot hosptial. My mom just had a surgery to remove the fluid around the heart on Sunday. The surgery was successful. However, today we are told that they found there is cancer cell in the fluid they drained. My mom is still coughing and she had X-ray scan when entered the hospital on July 5th, 2008 and the hospital found nothing wrong from the X-ray picture.

My question is where might that cancer cell comes from? Is is curable? The doctors have found no cancer in my mom's lung yet, but why she is still coughing?  Maybe after tommorrow, the doctors can find out more.

My whole family is so sad now and we don't want to lose her. I am really grateful to you for answering my question here.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Left lung mass  means a growth or tumor in the left lung. Although why it did not show in the X ray and CT scan is a little unusual.
Since the pericardial fluid shows cancer cells it is a possibility that the cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes.
The treatment options can be surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy depending on the stage of cancer.
Since your mom is in good health and has a good appetite I think she will respond well to treatment.
You can seek a second opinion if you are not reassured with this diagnosis. Do let me know if you need more information.

[LTZ]

Thanks a lot for your response and console.

My mom has done several tests during last two days. Lots of CT scan on the lower part of the body has found nothing wrong. Then, the doctors decided to check the lung again. There was a pipe being put into my mom's lung to check and monitor. They found nothing either. However, from the samples extracted from the lung, they again found cancer cell.

The doctor told me that "there is left lung mass" and the cancer is in later stage. We are very sad at the news. However, we are equally confused, because we can observe that my mom seems to have recovered from the surgery (i.e. removing the fluid around the heart) and she now has very good apetite and she can eat a lot in each meal and her cough is getting better and better.  Can I ask you the following questions:

What does "left lung mass" mean? Does it mean the "cancer cells" already spreading everywhere? But, why CT and X-ray has found nothing wrong?
How long can my mom survive? They said they could prescribe medicine for my mom to take? But why doctor never mention other ways of treatment such as radio-therapy?

Could anyone answer my question? I really appreciate it.

LTZ.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

I am really sorry and I can understand your feelings. These things come as a shock.
The cancer cells in the pericardial fluid may have come from the lungs. I think she needs to undergo more investigative procedures like a CT scan or an MRI of chest before an exact diagnosis can be made.
The prognosis will depend on the stage of cancer and the general health of your mother.
I wish you all the best. Please keep me posted.