Advice on cough

[Paulo1976]

Hey everyone, hope we are all keeping safe and doing good. I have posted before about my mum who is fighting lung cancer. In short, she has only had three chemo 's and now being referred for radiotherapy, as tumour has significantly shrunk. Good news. The chemo has knocked her for six. Her immune system low and bloods low, which wss expected. However, she has a horrendous cough, almost whooping cough sounding. She has had four lots of anti biotics, which are not working. It's been five weeks and no improvement and it's getting her down. Doctor says nothing they can do. There is a bit of phlegm and mum has had medicine on prescription to thin it out, still no change. My question is, can anyone recommend anything? Nature remedies? Other medication?

Appreciate any advice

Paul

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Some honey in a bit of warm water can soothe the irritation the cough causes. The irritation seems to trigger more coughing. Use a honey that has been pasteurized as raw honey may contain botulins.

When she has radiation, a tablespoon of honey before the radiation and another one after will help lessen any esophagitis treatment may cause.

A man in my lung cancer support group was told that his lingering cough was likely a sign of healing. Where there was once cancer there is scar tissue forming. His cough wasn't as bad as what you're describing though.

[etpd2226]

When I was coughing a lot, I was given a great cough syrup. It helped but was a bit sedating. The docs called it liquid gold but I do not remember the name. It is golden in color.

[Jenniferroseolson]

i am so glad you are advocating for your mum. For a very long time after diagnosis, I would start coughing and couldn’t stop-a cough with little if any phlegm but maybe similar to what you describe. It dissipated over time, but even after it lessened, I would cough if I had a fit of laughter—it is funny to think back about telling friends not to make me laugh after I regained composure from a laughing/coughing fit! It was uncomfortable but obviously laughter is a great medicine. I don’t mean to sound unsympathetic-in my case, the cough was a nuisance that did get better eventually. I am sorry your mom is going through this. If she has access to a Palliative Care doctor or nurse, they can help manage symptoms while undergoing treatment. Lung cancer has become-for many like me-a chronic illness that can be managed if not “cured” and palliative care can help tremendously! Best wishes to you both

[Barbara36]

Is she seeing a pulminologist? Is she on oxygen? Activity can help break up congestion supplemental oxygen and nutrition can help keep her moving. Coughing is good as it is trying to clear the lungs. Spiriva is a good inhaler and albuterol treatments help too. Honey mixed with lemon & hot tea can sooth the throat.

[JanetteR57]

I've had some dreadful coughs with nasty chest infections and the first one was what prompted me to seek help (particularly as it was accompanied with never previously experienced stress incontinence) that resulted in my lung cancer diagnosis eventually in 2011. Others have been due to pneumonia, pseudomonas, RSV and others. I've found drinking hot drinks, sucking boiled sweets (I find Halls Soothers work for me but there are others), inhaling over steam and sleeping propped up with pillows to prevent it settling on my chest.

This information may help.... recommended by a respiratory physiotherapist when I saw her before the pandemic (she was seconded to long covid clinics and not seen her since)... good luck.

physiotherapyforbpd.org.uk/...

[lakeswim]

My family member's had carbocisteine to thin the mucus & oramorph to suppress the cough, and I found a review article by Jacqueline Smith and Huda Badri that mentions various other possible new options like aprepitant and gefapixant that aren't mainstream. I'm not sure how you persuade the doctors to try those out.

[Paulo1976 in reply to lakeswim]

Thank you very much. Very useful

[lakeswim]

Good luck. If you get a chance to try those new drugs, please let us know how it goes!