@lummy hello and welcome. I experience those symptoms now as well but I find for me at least it is seasonal, more so in the dry northern winter. My mother at my age also cleared her throat more often as well. I put it off to age more than to old cancer damage. I guess a visit to an ENT might be in order if it becomes chronic.
When I run a humidifier at night it helps. This often allows me to sleep through the night without clearing my throat or sip water.