My father has mesothelioma. He had an pleural effusion 14 months ago and was diagnosed due to asbestos. He has remained very well for most of the year and refused treatment due to his fear of hospitals - he is 78 and has been taking turmeric combined with omega 3 and cancer fighting diet. He started getting pain relief in November. Then he lost a stone in weight in a month and lost his appetite and had increased heart rate. He was diagnosed as enaemic and given iron treatment. In the last two weeks he has developed fluid in the pleura again and quickly became very short of breath. He was taken into hospital last week but attempts to drain the fluid failed because they said it was too thick. They tried a bigger needle today but that failed as well. We are very frightened that they won't be able to help him. Are there other methods to drain the pleura? Since the treatment for his enaemia he has gained his appetite back and looks much better, but I cannot see him coming out of hospital if they don't drain the fluid. How will they go about this?