A persistent cough after radiotherapy.

Hi Sammywam, I too have had a cough prior to rads but does appear now dry and irritating , little breathless at times. But, had 2 chest infections during chemo ( had to be hospitalised ) and at end of rads , another chest infection / pleurisy. On my post treatment review with the consultant oncologist , he said if I still had it in 2-3 weeks, to visit GP to refer for a chest X-ray . Hope it improves for you . Best wishes Mechele 

So sorry to hear your situation Mechele. I do hope things are better for you now ?

I havent had chemo but will call RT depttoday for advice. Thanks for responding x 

Sammy i hope the oncologist can help with the cough.

Could I just tell you something I often take when my lungs start playing up ( I've had asthma /mild COPD) for a few years and never had to take antibiotics.

I take Olive Leaf Extract from the health food shop...it's anti viral anti inflammatory General all round good stuff. You can look it up on the Sloan Kettering site. It has really helped me over the years as soon as I get a cold /cough I take it 4 times a day. 

It's a tenner but worth it if it stops the cough 

Thanks Helen. Very kind of uou to suggest it. Ill look into it. Ivr spoken to mcmillan.nurse and gp now. Im having a chest xray tomorrow morning and they have given me a prescription for an inhaler and anti acids to try too. 

Ill take this route girst then if it doesn't work ill buy some olive leaf extract. Sounds better than.lots of drugs x 

Samantha 

So sorry to hear your situation Mechele. I do hope things are better for you now ?

I havent had chemo but will call RT depttoday for advice. Thanks for responding x 

Hi, I had a dry cough start 8 months after treatment, and after 6 weeks went to GP, and spoke to oncology, and GP referred me to ENt which took ages so oncology speeded things up, had chest xray all fine, ENT said nothing to see, so prescribed an inhaler to see how i get on, and that was march 16, and i only use it now and again, and cough has subsided quite a bit, but its bloody irritating, and i though i had cancer back in throat so it was very worrying for a while. just another bloody side affect you have to get to grips with.. Sally xx

Hi sally

So sorry youve had a tough time too. I had an xray yesterday. Am taking an inhaler snd antacids and anti biotics but no change so far.

Ill get the results on friday hopefully for the xray.ill see what they say. It is very irritating for me and my family I expect.I just hope it subsides soon too. 

Keep in touch.what cancer did you have treated before the cough started ?

Best wishes

Samantha 

Hi. So sorry to hear this. I'm writing on behalf of my 93 year old Mum who had a double mastec. in 2001.

She has always had a cough but on occasions it has been worse especially in dry atmospheres and dry weather with lots of pollen.

We used china, hang on the radiator humidifiers, which need filling with water to help and recently have just bought a warm electric humidifier from Argos which has also helped her. It appears to be all about keeping the throat etc moist.

In the past the GP has given her an asthma pump but my sister, a past physio, asked if the GP could provide a nebuliser with saline water will see if he does.

Mary

New to the group and was checking out whether my new cough is a side effect of radiotherapy which has just finished yesterday or the start of a cold? Really interesting to hear about others’ symptoms.