It might help to lean forward with your arms resting on a pillow on a bed table. You might find it more comfortable to sit on the edge of the bed or in an armchair. You might also feel anxious if you have difficulty breathing. Shortness of breath from a pleural effusion can be very uncomfortable. These tests show where the fluid is and how much there is.Ĭoping with shortness of breath when you have a pleural effusion Some people may also have a CT scan if doctors need more information about the collection of fluid. You usually have a chest x-ray or a chest (thoracic) ultrasound scan (TUS) to diagnose a pleural effusion. They will ask about your general health, your medical history and any medication you are taking. Your doctor needs to work out the cause of your symptoms. If you can't speak to someone quickly go to your local accident and emergency (A&E). If you suddenly become breathless or your breathing gets worse contact your hospital advice line or GP straight away. But you may also have a cough and chest pain. mesothelioma (a type of cancer of the pleura)įeeling breathless may be the first and only symptom you have if you have a pleural effusion.When cancer is the cause, you might hear doctors call this a malignant pleural effusion.Ī malignant pleural effusion is more likely to happen if you have: The other two main causes are heart failure and pneumonia (a severe chest infection). Causes of pleural effusionĬancer is the third most common cause of pleural effusion. The information on this page is about pleura effusion. You might need treatment to stop the fluid collecting. Pulmonary oedema is usually caused by heart problems. It is not usually possible to have this fluid drained.

Or they might mean you have fluid collecting inside the lung. If your doctor or nurse talks about fluid on the lung they might mean pleural effusion. The increased amount of fluid stops your lungs from expanding fully, you have to take shallower breaths and make more of an effort to breathe. The fluid builds up in the pleural space. This causes inflammation of the pleura and makes more fluid. This helps the lungs to move easily when you breathe in and out.Ĭancer cells can spread to the pleura. It's normal to have a thin layer of fluid in this space. In between the pleura is the pleural space. They are called pleural membranes (or pleura).

There are two sheets of tissue that protect the lungs. How does fluid build up around the lungs?

Fluid on the lungs in people with cancer (pleural effusion)Ĭancer can cause fluid to collect around the lungs.

What does fluid in lungs sound like