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Constant cough (4 months)

Posted by inquiringminds @inquiringminds, Mar 26, 2020

I have a question. So in 2018 I had a lumpectomy and radiation and since then on Anastrozole until 2023. On November 2018, I had a cold and had a continued cough until summer 2019. It stopped then. On December 2019 I got another cold and since then I am still coughing. Both times I went to a respirologist and 2 ENTs, they did x-rays, C.T. scans, checked for asthma and I don't have anything wrong according to the results - lungs are clear, sinuses don't have inflammation, I don't have asthma - I do have post nasal drip but both ENTs did the camera check and said nothing is wrong. I do neti pot rinses daily, I drink lots of water and fresh Juice, I eat healthy but this is not leaving me, recently when I cough my chest hurts. So I don't get this. It's not a dry cough so nothing to do with anything that is going on now with the corona, no fever, no symptoms, just this darn cough. If it was the radiation which did cause a mild fibrosis on the radiated breast, how come it started way before then? I can't find any info about what to do about this. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

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inquiringminds | @inquiringminds | Mar 27, 2020

Thank you Merry, I will take a look xx

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trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Mar 27, 2020
In reply to @inquiringminds "I tried amazon but it says that it's unavailable so I will keep looking. I live..." + (show)
@inquiringminds

I tried amazon but it says that it's unavailable so I will keep looking. I live in Canada so it's a bit different than USA. Thank you xx

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@inquiringminds It's on ebay...do they ship to Canada?

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1 reply
inquiringminds | @inquiringminds | Mar 27, 2020
In reply to @trixie1313 "@inquiringminds It's on ebay...do they ship to Canada?" + (show)
@trixie1313

@inquiringminds It's on ebay...do they ship to Canada?

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I will have to check it out. xx

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maryrohrer1 | @maryrohrer1 | Mar 27, 2020
In reply to @inquiringminds "Hi Sandy, thank you for your answer. My issue is that it was before I started..." + (show)
@inquiringminds

Hi Sandy, thank you for your answer. My issue is that it was before I started Anastrozole that I had the cough. In fact, it happened every year whenever I had a cold I would cough for a few months but since I am taking Anastrozole, the cough last a lot longer. Now it's 4 months that I have this cough with no solution. I do use the netti pot daily, I have cough drops constantly, I put a vaporizer in my room at night with peppermint essential oil in it, I put peppermint around my nose and it does ease it for a little bit then comes back again, I had x rays and ct scans both on my lungs and sinuses, clear, I had an asthma test - no asthma, breathing test - clear, so what is it and how can I get rid of it. My girlfriend just gave me a name of a homeopath that helped her friend when she was coughing, so I am going to have a Skype video call with her in the next few days (because of Covid-19 - no in person appt) and hopefully she will help me too.

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You should get checked out by a pulmonologist. He/She will also advise whether is related to your heart not your pulmonary system That needs to be ruled in or out.

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zeerj | @zeerj | Mar 29, 2023

Valley fever or pneumonia with breast cancer
I at 8 out of 14 treatments of Kadcyla for my breast cancer. Had persistent cough. After X-ray, they initially thought it was pneumonia. CT scan showed diagnosis more with radiation pneumonitis. Blood work came back and it was positive for Valley fever. Now they put me on anti fungal medication and I have to see an infectious disease dr. In addition the dr referred me to pulmonologist. Thankfully, they ruled out cancer. Anyone had experience lungs issues while on treatment? Thanks!

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zeerj | @zeerj | Apr 8, 2023
In reply to @trixie1313 "@inquiringminds The radiation could be causing some of that cough. My radiation was in the vicinity..." + (show)
@trixie1313

@inquiringminds The radiation could be causing some of that cough. My radiation was in the vicinity of the worst lung (I also have bronchiectasis) and a month or more after radiation I wound up with radiation pneumonitis. Great luck, right? But was treated for that and continued with irritating cough. I went through a lot of Riccola cough drops to help soothe cough. Found a product (NutriBiotic throat spray) which helped some. However, I was reading that during cold weather there is not enough moisture in the air so started using my vaporizer throughout the day and night and, wouldn't you know, my cough has been cut down exponentially? It at least wouldn't hurt to try a vaporizer. Hoping this helps you somewhat.

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Hello, I was wondering if you can tell me about your experience with radiation pneumonitis. I was diagnosed with it last week. I am on round 8 of 16 of kadcyla for her2+. My oncologist delayed treatment for six weeks. I am on prednisone currently. Was really bummed with the whole thing and delay of treatment.

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1 reply
trixie1313 | @trixie1313 | Apr 9, 2023
In reply to @zeerj "Hello, I was wondering if you can tell me about your experience with radiation pneumonitis. I..." + (show)
@zeerj

Hello, I was wondering if you can tell me about your experience with radiation pneumonitis. I was diagnosed with it last week. I am on round 8 of 16 of kadcyla for her2+. My oncologist delayed treatment for six weeks. I am on prednisone currently. Was really bummed with the whole thing and delay of treatment.

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@zeerj
It sounds like your treatment is standard and hopefully will clear up your pneumonitis soon. Unfortunately, that can be one of the side effects of treatment. In addition to my cancer, I've also been diagnosed with bronchiectasis and atelectasis which will be an ongoing part of my journey. I just have to be careful of perfumes, wood smoke, etc, which will set off the coughing. If you have any questions, I would ask to be seen by a pulmonary doctor who can answer many of your questions. All the best to you.

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cancerat80 | @cancerat80 | Apr 13, 2023

It may sound completely off the cancer track but I developed a chronic cough that kept me awake at night. Went to my primary physician who said the drug Lisinopril causes chronic cough. Changed it to Losarten, cough stopped. Both are blood pressure drugs.
Also, I just had invasive lobular breast cancer surgery a month ago and am starting on Tamoxifen tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed that the side effects aren’t too bad.

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cancerat80 | @cancerat80 | Apr 13, 2023

If you take Lisinopril for blood pressure it can cause chronic cough. My primary switched me to Losartan and cough went away. It has to do with class of drug you’re taking- Lisinopril is an ACE INHIBITOR. Losarten is an ARB.

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