My dad was diagnosed with NSCLC a year ago and has been on a combo of Gemzar, Taxol and Avastin since.
In the last few months he's developed chronic post nasal drip, leading to fits of uncontrollable coughing. It keeps him (and my mom) up at night, makes him exhausted, and is having a worse impact on his quality of life than the cancer itself.
The cough is productive, and so not due to GERD. He's had multiple appointments with a pulmonologist and an ENT specialist, and they can't find any cause. Various exams (including nasal endoscopy and bronchoscopy) have revealed no cause. He's been prescribed various sprays and meds, which have helped only a little, if at all.
Is this a known side-effect of his chemo regimen? And has anyone had any success managing this? He's generally skeptical of so-called "alternative" remedies, but is willing to consider them, even as a placebo, if any are specifically recommended for this condition.
Thanks!
Ben
Reply # - June 29, 2015, 06:38 PM
Hi Ben,
Hi Ben,
I'm sorry to hear of your dad's problem with coughing; a persistent cough can plague patients as a result of lung cancer or other conditions, although I'm not aware of it as a side effect of his treatment. Patients getting Avastin may cough up some blood, but that doesn't seem to be what you're describing.
Dr. Harman has a post on Managing Cough here. I hope you can find a solution to this often vexing problem.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - June 29, 2015, 07:22 PM
Thanks for the quick reply! I
Thanks for the quick reply! I shall read that post with care.
The doctors all seem to concur that since the cough is productive, it's not directly related to the lung tumor. Plus, he has a persistently runny nose. And he's not coughing up blood, fortunately, just phlegm.
Reply # - July 2, 2015, 03:15 AM
Ask his doctor if he can take
Ask his doctor if he can take Benadryl at night. It helps dry up the sinus congestion. He can also try a humidifier. Take care, Judy