Really bad cough

[nic_skev]

Hello,

I am asking a question as I am concerned for my dad. He was diagnosed with non-hodgkin's lymphoma two years ago now and he was very ill when he was diagnosed but thankfully now he is much better, apart from an annoying cough!

The GP's at his doctors surgery keeping sending him away with anti biotics which are doing nothing and after spending the whole weekend with him I realised how bad his cough was. Does anyone think this could be the lymphoma coming back as I read that a symptom of lymphoma in the chest could be a bad cough? I could be just being paranoid but I am worried now.

Thanks all for your help

Nicola

[Shar0n Volunteer]

I think if the cough is persistent and not responding to antibiotics, it needs checking out by the team that treated his NHL. If you were to emphasise firmly to the GP that the worry that his illness has returned is affecting his ability to get on with life, it may help. However any persistent cough not responding to first line treatment should be examined further.

[nic_skev in reply to Shar0n]

He does go and see his consultant every 3 or 6 months I think so I'll check if he's mentioned it to him. I'm don't think he is even considering that this could be his NHL coming back as this was in his digestive system last time so I don't think he's connecting this cough with it to be honest.

Thank you for your help and advice, this is much appreciated

[lankisterguy]

Hi Nicola,

With blood cancers we also get compromised immune systems. When I was first diagnosed I also got a severe cough that ultimately was determined to be Whooping Cough (Pertussis), despite having had a DPTa vaccination.

A few years later during treatment I had a consistent dry cough from Pneumocystis - a lung fungus.

Regular doctors don't know how to treat immune compromised patients, so your dad may need to see an infectious disease specialist- a doctor that treats patients with HIV-AIDs or MS, to get an accurate diagnosis.

Len

[nic_skev in reply to lankisterguy]

Hi Len, Thanks for your help!

[Calipewings_2016]

I had a bad cough which was one of my symptoms before being diagnosed. He should have an oncologist. I would let his oncologist know. Was he treated for NHL? Or is he on Watch & Wait?

[nic_skev in reply to Calipewings_2016]

Oh sorry, yes he was treated for NHL two years ago but he's on watch and wait know to see if it raises it's ugly head again!

[nic_skev]

I think he's on watch and wait to be honest!

[laylalulu]

I was diagnosed three years ago I had my spleen removed for splenic marginal zone NHL , so now I'm on watch and wait too. I have always had a shortness of breath and now since last year developing a cough. Like you I wonder if anything is wrong to do with NHL, but I feel fine am not losing weight so I feel like I'm paranoid too. I had it checked out by gp last year and nothing showed up and now feel silly asking again, in my heart I wish I could get a cat scan every year if I had my way. My cancer doc moved me up to 2 year visit so I trust he knows what he's doing. Sorry to vent lol

[nic_skev in reply to laylalulu]

It's fine to vent and I can understand why you would be paranoid! Hope everything works out for you

[deestb]

I have NHL (diagnosed Jan 2014) Waldenstroms ... had been doing ok was on watch and wait

I have had a cough since January 2018 I did get treated for cough in 2015 and 2016

Was told it was asthma have had 5 chest xrays 5 rounds of antibiotics and some prednisone...but the cough is bad...so....the oncologists and the respirologist and the ENT Drs decided is sinus issues ....Am having a pullmonary function test tomorrow and a detailed sinus /neck /chest CT in a month.

I am so glad you shared your info with us....I have felt so isolated ..this cough has affected my life style....it is frustrating not to have a diagnosis after 6 monhts of coughing and feeling fatigued.

I will let you know how the CT and PFT go......am hoping for the best . I hope your father gets the help he needs...

thanks everyone .. your posts have made me feel less alone....

[nic_skev in reply to deestb]

My dad's cough is much worse in the morning and it's so loud as well! It's like he has something stuck in his throat or on his chest that he can't shift. He's had various scans and tests but they just can't find out what the cause is. Let me know how the scans go and I'll keep everything crossed for you

[jack23 in reply to deestb]

Hi, I too have found that I am getting all kinds of resp. infections after having NHL. And a cough is a symptom of all of them! I think our immune system is struggling due to the NHL itself or the treatment of it. Finally I was told I had 'specific antibody disorder' and the treatment is IVIG. Try a google search. I am having sinus surgery first to see if that does the trick, if not I will proceed with the IVIG treatments. Don't give up and keep searching for answers. We as patients often have to do our own research, and remember, we know ourselves best. Keep on.

[nic_skev in reply to jack23]

Thank you Jack And having a rare disease myself called Susacs syndrome I know exactly what you mean about doing your own research as nobody (not even some doctors!) know anything about Susacs! IVIG is something some patients have though as treatment. Thanks for replying to me

[1Anj1]

Hi the first course of action is always check bloods of any elevations

Check for pyrexia

Then give antibiotics and see what happens.

If that doesn’t work then it scan time.