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Have you ever had hiccups with or after chemotherapy?

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Jun 11, 2019

We all know what hiccups are, right? They are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm — the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing. Each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of your vocal cords, which produces the characteristic "hic" sound.

Mayo Clinic investigators want to learn more about hiccups in people who are receiving cancer treatment and, if you have experienced hiccups, how they may have affected your quality of life.

So, whether you’ve had hiccups or not, we asked Connect members to take part in a survey. Responses in the survey remain anonymous and are kept completely confidential. The survey is now closed. I will share the results of survey after analysis.
In the meantime, feel free to take part in this discussion about hiccups, if you want to share.

Have you had hiccups after chemotherapy? If yes, were they different than you’ve experienced before? Did they bother you or affect your daily living?

+++Study Results+++
Frequency and Symptomatology of Hiccups in Patients With Cancer: Using an On-Line Medical Community to Better Understand the Patient Experience
By C Ehret, C Young, C Ellefson, L Aase, A Jatoi
Published April 1, 2021
https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211006923

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

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bobgallen | @bobgallen | Nov 8 7:34am
In reply to @bobgallen "I am coming up to a year since last chemo on my 84 th birthday. The..." + (show)
Profile picture for bobgallen @bobgallen

I am coming up to a year since last chemo on my 84 th birthday. The hiccups, from seeing everyone’s comments seem like chemo drugs are often different.
Steroids seem like the only common thread however mine did not occur until after last chemo session
So am perplexed as to actual cause. Have tried a lot home remedy but no luck. Finally got back to 45 minute daily walks it is really helping to regain my physical strength will get back to golfing this summer hopefully
I hope hiccups will be gone by then. Always hopeful
Best to everyone

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@bobgallen
This is an update on my hiccups
First posted in may 2024, I have continued to have three days of continuous hiccups every 7 to 10 days until 18 days ago and guess what they have not come back. I know it is a short time but what a relief. Praying it is permanent. Never could relate it to food or drink.
Also My physical condition has continued to improve very gradually since chemo treatment, maybe all the drugs have finally left my body. Happy days.

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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Nov 8 10:14am
In reply to @bobgallen "@bobgallen This is an update on my hiccups First posted in may 2024, I have continued..." + (show)
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@bobgallen
This is an update on my hiccups
First posted in may 2024, I have continued to have three days of continuous hiccups every 7 to 10 days until 18 days ago and guess what they have not come back. I know it is a short time but what a relief. Praying it is permanent. Never could relate it to food or drink.
Also My physical condition has continued to improve very gradually since chemo treatment, maybe all the drugs have finally left my body. Happy days.

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@bobgallen I remember your original post. I am happy for you. You still have to be in shock a little that they are gone?

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stevebjerke | @stevebjerke | Nov 9 1:54pm

Started chemo and immuno therapy last week. Hiccups started right away, especially at night.
I found by switching positions while laying down and relaxing I was able to somewhat control the frequency of the Hiccups.
Good luck!

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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Nov 10 8:50am
In reply to @stevebjerke "Started chemo and immuno therapy last week. Hiccups started right away, especially at night. I found..." + (show)
Profile picture for stevebjerke @stevebjerke

Started chemo and immuno therapy last week. Hiccups started right away, especially at night.
I found by switching positions while laying down and relaxing I was able to somewhat control the frequency of the Hiccups.
Good luck!

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@stevebjerke Hi and welcome to Mayo Connect. What was your diagnosis that requires chemo and immunotherapy?

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stevebjerke | @stevebjerke | Nov 10 11:55am

Diagnosis started with stage 1 upper right lobe lobechtemy. Changed to 3b after spread to 2nd lung and lymph nodes. Changed to stage 4 when lower spine was found to have cancer also. Started Chemo and Immunotherapy November 5, 2025.

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Turkey, Volunteer Mentor | @tomrennie | Nov 10 2:36pm
In reply to @stevebjerke "Diagnosis started with stage 1 upper right lobe lobechtemy. Changed to 3b after spread to 2nd..." + (show)
Profile picture for stevebjerke @stevebjerke

Diagnosis started with stage 1 upper right lobe lobechtemy. Changed to 3b after spread to 2nd lung and lymph nodes. Changed to stage 4 when lower spine was found to have cancer also. Started Chemo and Immunotherapy November 5, 2025.

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@stevebjerke I know that it is early in the process, but how are things going so far?

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stevebjerke | @stevebjerke | Nov 10 5:39pm

Things are going well, Thank You.

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ohiogal8860 | @ohiogal8860 | Nov 13 7:31am
In reply to @colleenyoung "@susu2 @odette @merpreb, thanks for sharing your experiences. Susu, technically speaking hiccups are involuntary contractions of..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@susu2 @odette @merpreb, thanks for sharing your experiences.

Susu, technically speaking hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. Hiccups are usually repetitive. Belching or burping (eructation) is the voluntary or involuntary, sometimes noisy release of air (gas) from the stomach or esophagus through the mouth. Knowing that distinction, can you tell if you're experiencing burps or hiccups?

Merry, that's what we are trying to find out -- whether hiccups may be related to treatment and if yes, which treatments?

Odette, good question. On the grand scale of cancer treatment side effects, we want to find out if hiccups are a side effect and if yes, how they affect daily living. This study will help us understand if further research is necessary to understand how patients manage this side effect if it is having a negative impact on quality of life.

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@colleenyoung

I know I am chiming on this topic but since this is just the third day of my husband’s first cycle, he did experience hiccups yesterday afternoon just after his second treatment. He only had one chemo med which was Etoposide. We figured it was related but was going to ask today during treatment.

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bobgallen | @bobgallen | Nov 14 8:56am

Where can I find the survey results fo hiccup
I did the survey at the time
Bob allen

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