A family letter after pleural-fluid drainage

CAPTIONS / IMAGE LABELS MYYL Lung cancer PATIENT FOLLOW-UP RECORDS Xiao Aicun · 80 · Hunan English translation · Original medical images retained CASE RECORD · Lung cancer · 80 Xiao Aicun, 80, from Hunan, had lung cancer, pleural fluid and a left breast nodule. She reported dizziness, stomach pain, chest tightness and breathlessness. After fluid drainage locally, she was too weak to proceed with further surgery and sought care in September. After more than half a month, the family reported less chest tightness and breathlessness and more normal urination and bowel movements. The follow-up account describes generally stable findings. CHAT PANEL S181-P01 Xiao Aicun · Lung cancer Director Yang Chengping and Mr Duan, I have been unable to sleep for several nights and feel very anxious. My mother has one week left in her second course. What should we do next? At first I went to a Chinese medicine hospital in Beijing for her pleural effusion. We spent money, but she had diarrhea every day on that medicine and was afraid to continue. We were then referred to a Guangzhou clinic using a professor's prescription from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. It was easier to take and did not cause diarrhea, but it did not control the effusion. She needed drainage at the county hospital, with 700–800 mL removed daily. It was heartbreaking and discouraging. In early September we came to MYYL and received medicine from Yang Chengping. We feel it stabilized my mother's condition. Doctors had said she would need drainage again within 20 days and might not live until New Year. There are still over three months to go, but our whole family now sees hope. CHAT PANEL S181-P02 Update on my mother Mr Duan, She is no longer dizzy and has no stomach pain, chest tightness or shortness of breath. She may have a cold today, with a dry cough. Her appetite remains poor, but bowel and urinary function have returned to normal. The drainage wound still hurts. She cannot stand upright and walk well, and spends most of the day in bed. She started Yang Chengping's medicine from MYYL on the evening of 9 September, exactly 13 days ago. We feel her condition is under better control and her spirits are much better. Thank you to Yang Chengping, Mr Duan and the whole team. Finally, thank you to Director Yang Chengping and Mr Duan at MYYL for caring for the patient. With respect, A relative of patient Xiao 20 October 2024