coughing after radiation

Carol_Valley

My sister is 63 and just completed radiation for reoccuring breast cancer which came back as a lump on top of her left clavicle.  After chemo and radiation, now she has developed a terrible cough - her oncologist prescribed steroids for 2 weeks- no relief.  This week she goes in to see a pulmonologist to see what they can do. Has anyone experience this?  Our died passed away from non-Hodgins lymphoma.  Could this be lymphoma occuring? The MRI showed shadows in her chest cavity which oncologist said was not cancer . They called then "smudges" which were from the cough.  I am worried it could be something more serious as nothing seems to help the cough. She coughs up some phlegm and it is clear - no blood.  She has no fever and has not experienced weight loss, etc. Seems to be able to eat, but very exhausted from the cough as cannot sleep well and cannot do much as everything stimulates it.  Thank you for any input you may have! 

mari55

Radiation can cause an inflammatory change in the lungs- radiation pneumonitis ( it is like a delayed sun burn).  Steroids usually help but sometimes it takes pretty high doses for a few months to get rid of it.  A good pulmonologist should be able to get to the bottom of the cough and get your mom some nswers and relief.   Good luck

Mri 

Infobabe

This is something that scares me.  I will be starting 5 weeks of rads shortly.  It will be on my left side, near my lung and heart.  Damage to those two organs is a possibility.  I did ask the radiologist what they do to protect them and he told me though I didn't realy understand what he was saying.  But it is something.

Kaso

You described me. My harsh bark came on a month before my BC diagnosis and has NOT stopped. The weekend before I finished radiation I spiked a fever of 102. I was told to go to the ER. Before that my radiation simulation scan showed an incidental finding of inflammation on my lungs outer edge- 7.5 mm. I was then sent for a lung CT and hooked up with a thoracic oncologist. The lung CT showed scarring areas and nodules that are not of concern yet. The cough does not relent. The ER thought viral acute bronchitis and maybe pneumanitis. The Thoracic Onc. thinks I can control this. He prescribed a 5 day course of steroids 40mg a day and gave me an inhaler. He can't test for asthma until the cough resolves. My gastro doctor wants to rule in or out gerd, but is afraid of larygospasm. The steroid is a miracle for 12 hours and the cough comes back in vengence ruining yet another sleep. I welcome any advice. I now have to take a mask and wear it when I work 1-1 with my medically fragile students because of the viral nature of my cough.