Chemo Cough

cancerkicker
cancerkicker Member Posts: 99
edited May 2018 in Young With Breast Cancer

Hi ladies!  In September, I started Taxol/Avastin and it is working wonders on my cancer.  My tumor markers have dropped from 1300 to 83 and my scans have showed dramatic improvement!

While I am thrilled with the success of chemo, I do have one very big complaint.  I have the worst chemo cough ever!  It is a dry cough and it rears it's ugly head at night.  During the day, I rarely cough.  But at night, it is so bad it keeps me and my husband up. 

We have tried everything:  humidifier, vaporizer, sleeping pills, prescription cough medicine, vicks, keeping water by the bed, sleeping with a cough drop in my mouth.... Nothing is working.  We are starting to go crazy.........does anyone have any suggestions for me?

I have mentioned it many times to be doctor and we have tried anti-biotics too.  Again, no luck.

So if you know of any tricks that can help me out, me and my husband would be game to try anything!

Thanks!

Jessica

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Comments

  • Jane108
    Jane108 Member Posts: 36
    edited January 2010

    Not sure if this will help but.....on Taxol, I developed severe laryngitis.  My doctor said it wasn't a side effect but his nurse said that she had seen a lot of it.  It lasted for over 2 months and on many days, I couldn't speak at all and I was getting scared.  I decided to see an ENT doctor who helped me greatly by letting me know that the laryngitis would go away about 4-8 wks. after I was off Taxol.  He also prescribed Prilosec which I took for 2 full months.  I now have my voice back completely!  I don't think it can hurt seeing an ENT doctor because it may be that the cough is coming from your throat area.  Good luck. 

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  • BeccaBoo
    BeccaBoo Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2010

    I also have a dry cough. I have completed 4 rounds of dose dense A/C and have currently completed 2 out of 12 Taxol. I started coughing after receiving my second round of A/C. It rears its head as a tickle, mostly at night as well, and also when I start talking abruptly. My sinuses are also very dry, almost like I have chalk dust in them all the time. UGH. The only thing that helps me is the occasional sleeping pill, or Ny-Quil if the cough is really persistent. Doctors have really been no help at all. Everything that is wrong with me EVER has to do with the chemo. Go figure. Hang in there :)

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  • PollyKate
    PollyKate Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2013

    Yes, I have finished by round of Taxol and my cough started about a week ago, finished Taxol and now on Radiation, cough is just at night, cough and cough, no sleep, I'm just so tired, what can I do, I tried to suck a Halls which helps my throat but the coughing,  WHAT CAN I DO, anyone got any idea that would work??  Thanks for any ideas

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  • suz54
    suz54 Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2013


    i am on docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (no adriamycin). had my 3rd chemo last friday but today, i lost my voice. had a bit of a sore throat. any home remedy (?) since i live quite far from the city where there is a proper clinic.

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  • mysunshine48
    mysunshine48 Member Posts: 1,480
    edited June 2015


    I am on T/C and am coughing uncontrollably.....gagging. I do not cough when I lay flat, but the minute I get up to go to the bathroom, it starts agsin. Anyone else. I am having a CT scan of my lungs tomorrow. I have read everything I can about this, but can find no answers or solutions

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  • Roxier
    Roxier Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2015

    Hi Bonita Springs, Did you ever find a solution to your cough? I have developed the same cough, not at night, but as soon as I get up. Have tried cough medicine, cold medicine, heartburn drugs, Flonase. It is not getting better. If something worked for you please let me know.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2015

    Hi Roxier, and welcome to Breastcancer.org,

    We're sorry you're also experiencing this terrible side effect. You might want to check out the main Breastcancer.org site's side effect page on Coughing for some tips to help manage this effect.

    We hope this helps. Please let us know if you find a solution!

    --The Mods

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  • Raksanoor
    Raksanoor Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2018

    My wife went thru her 3rd (out of 6) round of chemo last week. Couple of days before the treatment she developed cough. Had her chest X-ray and the blood tests done and was all clear. However she is now on antibiotics. The cough keeps her awake at nights and makes her more fatigued.

    CB, grade 2, ER/PR+, HER2+,Docetaxel+Trastuzumab+Perjeta


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  • Emma1973
    Emma1973 Member Posts: 10
    edited March 2018

    Yes, the chemo cough is rough. I can't seem to find anything that will help. Definitely worse at night. I'm just trying to drink a lot of water now. Seems like a build up of something in throat. I've had it since day one of chemo. I'll be looking forward to this going away after treatment!

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  • katelake
    katelake Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2018

    After first round of Taxol, I too developed horrible gagging dry cough and laryngitis. Thought I was alone until I found this blog, so thank you all. I am encouraged to know it eventually resolves. Oncologist says never seen in practice. Cough worse at night and with any transition. Drink ice water 24/7 to soothe throat. Went to ER and like others here all tests were clear. I sleep upright because laying down brings on the cough, making CT scan difficult. Oncologist is going to discontinue taxol, my 3rd line of treatment. Not sure what other options are left?...

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  • Amelia01
    Amelia01 Member Posts: 266
    edited May 2018

    I too had a horrid cough and finally after two months it is much better (was really bad on EC and now better on Taxol). I was told it might stem from stomach acid in addition to dehydration. I started taking a stomach acid blocker and it helped.

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