Collapased Lung / Pericardial Effusion

My 76 yr old father has advanced stage 4 lung cancer, after a PT scan yesterday, they found no signs of mets anywhere else. However, the tumor is on the outstide of his left lung, leaving it collapased and non-functional. He is scheduled for surgery for the pericardial effusion (fluid build-up around heart) due to the tumor being so close to the heart. Has anyone had experience dealing with a collapsed lung due to tumors or having surgery for a pericardial effusion?  He has recently gone through a dramatic weight-loss (25lbs lost in 4 weeks), but the tumor seems to be "stable".  Any thoughts or advice?

 Thanks

Hi,

My mother has pleural effusion around her right lung because of the cancer in the lung. The Oncologist has recommended a Denver cathetar which stays in place so that he fluid can be removed when needed. He explained to us that if you continue to just have procedures like chest tube or a thoracentesis then you eventually end up having small fluid filled pockets that will be hard to drain. So he explained that just keeping one tube in place so when it is needed it is already there and you can drain it at home. My mother does not have that because they currently have her on lasix then she occasionally gets prednisone(steriod pills) between her chemo treatment.