How long is a cough "normal"?

Hi all, saw this thread and feel like I need to add my story. I started a dry cough in August (not productive). It was annoying, not deep but annoying. It was worse when I would lay down to sleep so I slept propped up. I added a sinus headache and a few other symptoms and was told I had a virus. Saw an ENT, agreed virus, called my Oncology office and they told me this was a matter for my General Practitioner. The cough really sounded like reflux which my mom has had for years with no heartburn so I started taking prilosec. Came down with laryngitis in Sept. GP still says virus. After 2 weeks gave me asthma med singular for "reactive airway disorder". Didn't help. Have mammogram and annual check up at Cancer Ctr on 10/2. Beautifully clear mammogram. Onc. PA agrees with GP I have a virus although I am insistent and concerned it is something more and I haven't been able to take a deep breath for a couple of months although my lungs are clear and my pulse oxygen great (blood work also perfect but it always has been).

Cut to the chase, saw a new ENT, have a paralyzed vocal cord, ordered CT and its due to seriously swollen lymph nodes in my superclavical area - also have huge cluster of lymph nodes in my chest putting pressure on my wind pipe. Had a chest xray, all clear.

I wish I had had a neck CT earlier ! My swollen lymph nodes are deep and under bone so not very detectable or obvious by touch. I had seen 5 doctors and a couple more than once and no one picked this up although they all felt my neck for lymph nodes, listened to my lungs and did the normal vitals checks. I was stage 1 in 2008, no lymph node activity at that time and my risk for recurrence considered to be low after treatment (incl. years of femara).

My good news is that it hasn't seemed to spread to bones or organs. Fulvetrant gave me almost immediate relief to my wind pipe pressure and I can sleep fine. Voice is still "not normal" but slowly getting better - may not ever go back to what it was but time will tell.

I am a great advocate for myself but can't believe how long it took for me to get answers. My oncologist retired 5 years ago and I was put in to a "Wellness Clinic" at that time (due to my low risk of recurrence) but I go to a top rated NCI . I told my GP (also new to me bc my previous GP retired) that I had breast cancer in 2008 and am very concerned and she was very dismissive.

Please get a neck CT! Most likely it will be clear but if not, you can start treatment.

After the neck CT they did biopsy the swollen node under my clavicle. It is a challenging area to biopsy due to the arteries in the area and most of the swollen lymph nodes are in an area they cant access (too deep and/or under bone). They were not detectable by touch except for one that was by touch after the first biopsy - seems like the biopsy added to the swelling or they were just continuing to grow. It took 2 biopsies to get results and the waiting was just awful. Also, the ENT had to order the biopsy and they don't seem to be able to get them as quickly as a cancer center. Cancer center couldn't order it or take over until I had a conclusive cancer dx from the biopsy. I live in the Seattle area and go to UW and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance which is a leading NCI. This process was unbelievable. Good news is that I really like my new oncologist and she got me completely scanned asap as soon as I saw her. Pet, bone, head MRI etc etc. Within days of our first appt.

I can't tell you how frustrating it has been but now that I have answers and I can breath normally (which makes me think fulvestrant is working!) I am trying to focus on the positive and let go of my anger at the amount of doctors I saw and the dismissive behavior of all of them. I left out a few details such as my husband taking me to the ER in early September for the intense left side sinus headache at night - they did a CT of my head and that was clear. I honestly thought I had a brain tumor. Too bad the CT scan wasn't from the neck up. My laryngitis started the day after that ER visit.

Left sinus headache, left ear ringing continuously, left vocal cord paralysis (which was my final symptom that got a new ENT to notice) and left side original breast cancer. I felt like I was in a bad episode of House. I kept telling them as symptoms piled on "you know I had left side breast cancer - doesn't this seem like it could be related??". I had to fake rib pain to get a chest xray while I was waiting for my 2nd biopsy results as I was about to lose my mind waiting for results and the fact that they didn't get enough tissue the first time was really hard to take. I have a client that is an oncologist (too far away for me to see him as a patient) who told me to fake rib pain and go to urgent care to get a chest xray to ease my mind. My oncologist client also called in an rx for ativan. He is amazing.

My new advice is to exaggerate or fake symptoms to get some answers if doctors aren't taking you seriously. I was really relieved when my head CT was clear - didn't occur to me that I needed a neck CT because I AM NOT A DOCTOR! Ugh.

Edited to add: Mammograms have been perfect and this skipped my lymph nodes near my breasts but went to my superclavicle nodes on the left side and mediastinal lymph nodes in my chest.

Thyroid is ok from what they can tell. Yep. It took 3 clinics really because my GP and the first ENT are at another local large clinic/hospital. My mammograms have been crystal clear and beautiful and I haven't missed one. It didn't come back in my breast or in the lymph nodes near my breasts. My question is why don't they do an occasional pet scan, say every 4 years to check on other areas? It is such a non proactive process, at least for me.

Thanks KBee and Marijen - I consider myself a great advocate but this this was a tough lesson. I appreciate the support and my hope is that by sharing it on these boards I can help out a sister!