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i was wondering what a cancer cough feels like? before you were diagnosed did any of you have only a cough that wouldnt go away? chest pain? i am wondering what the pain felt like and if the cough was productive or dry. thanx
maryann
Pneumonia Asthma Cancer Singulair Pain Prednisone Allergies Lung cancer Fever
I had a dry little cough - perhaps only a few times every day - but as it was summer and I certainly did not have a cold, I brought it up with my doctor when visiting on another matter in about Sept 2008. He listened to my chest (as he always does!!) but took no action. About a month later with this little cough persisting, I want again and, by chance, he was away and a young lady was replacing him. She ordered an x-ray "just to be sure" and they found a 7cm tumor behind my heart..
That's when it all started so I would advise anyone with a slight but persistent dry cough to insist on a chest x-ray.
hi maryann,
my husband has NSCLC, stage 3a...his diagnosis was made after months of a nagging, dry, minor cough.....but me repeatedly saying...."it just isnt normal to have a cough for this many months"...........first visit to the PULM he did an xray that showed what they thought to be pneumonia, 2nd xray, one CT scan and subsequent bronchoscopy confirmed NSCLC....dont ignore a cough....
good luck,
janet
My cough started as a dry cough. I kept telling my doc that it wasn't normal, she said it was allergies or asthma and gave me an inhaler. My cough became worse, as when I would start to cough I could not stop. It was worse at night. I had to start wearing depends. My doc just would not listen to me. Finally I started to run a constant low grade fever she said it was a respotory infection. They did a xray when I landed in the hospital for blood tranfusions, With a fever of 103 constantly. Please, Please insist on a xray and don't let them blow you off.
Good luck
Penny
Hi i had a cough for a few years that would not go away i then got pain in my left chest when i went to my docter thay sent me for a exray the girl who took the exray said she saw something on my left lung i didnt think anything of it because my docter said nothing to me on the report so 2 more years past and i started getting a pulled musle feeling in my chest went to er and thay said it was a pulled muscle and sent me home i worked at the home depot flooring dept and did alot of lifting so i thought that was the problem more time past and then i started to throw up loose weight and took myself to a different hospital witch thay found that i had lung cancer this past october i had my left lung taken out had chemo witch was horrable and now im getting radiation thay said i had cancer for 10 years i just wish thay would have found it earlier thay say i have a big chance of beating it so im hopeful im only 41 with five kids and 3 grandchildren and i want to see them grow anyway dont mess with a cough its number one simptom good luck angela
Hi maryann,
I did not have a cough at all, but a rather vague feeling of being unwell. I experienced constant and growing fatigue, and thought that I was just doing too much and feeling my age. Then I began to notice a change in my breathing. I could not seem to get enough air. When I mentioned that to my doctor, it got attention and a chest Xray showed that I had pneumonia affecting almost all of my right lung. The tumor was not detectable until they could clear my lung of the pneumonia. The lesson I learned from this experience is to report everything to my doctor that is unusual. I think that a person knows when there is something not right with them and if that feeling persists, follow Penny's advice and "dont' let them blow you off.
emtq
I had no symptoms at all, just a nodule on a routine ct after breast lumpectomy. (The worst cough ever was after the bronchoscopy.) The nodule did not grow and was PET negative, but it was stage 1a nsclc. Get an xray or ct is my advice. Hugs!
Maryanne - I had no "standard" symptome - if you are wondering if you have LC because you or someone you know has a "cough" go get a CT scan. I had to lie to my dr. to get it apprived - just say you coughed up blood - workes every time! Good Luck
Karen
Karen's response was right I think. Sometimes it is hard to get your doctor to pay attention and send you for diagnostic tests - lie if you have to. I just had the dry cough that wouldn't go away, along with SOB. If you think there is a problem, be safe rather than sorry and don't waste any time. Good luck.
My dry cough (which, by the way, I still have!) saved my life. While working with my clients I would go into these violent coughing spasms. After a while of this I checked with my doctor because it became a bit embarrassing - my clients would say: "Are you ok? Should I call somebody?" At first I was given sprays and medication because they thought it may be allergies. No response. I was given TB test = negative. Was then given an x-ray (was told on a preliminary glance things lookied ok, but the radiologist would take a final look). The radiologist determined the x-ray needed a closer look and a CT scan was ordered. That's when they verified that it was cancer. It saved my life. As a friend in the Cancer Wellness Support Group said: "Honey, that was the angels knocking!" It's always good to check. One thing I've learned on this site is that you have to be your own advocate. I wish you the best. Blessings! Brooklynda
my cough persisted after 3 dr. visits-finally x-ray, ct scan showed 2 tumors on RL=and subsequently pleral effusion-non-operable 3B-have had rad and 4 chemo-disease free until recently-biopsy showed inconclusive-not sure what is next=Get aCT scan now..
I had a dry, harsh cough but I accounted it for a few months to allergies and just not getting rid of a bad cold. I was like that for 7 months until I started having problems breathing and severe pain in my shoulder blade area. Then I knew something wasn't right but again accounted to allergy/asthma related. The rest of me felt fine. Glad the doctor convinced me to get a chest x-ray. Definately get an x-ray and like Karen said above if you have to fib do it. Rather safe than sorry.
Maribeth
My husband had a harsh dry cough. He actually pulled muscles in his back coughing. He went to his family Dr, who gave him muscle relaxers and antiinflammatory med. I made him call back& the dr called in cough syrup. A week later, he went back to the same dr who said "you may have pneumonia or asthma" and gave him inhaler, prednisone and singulair. Never did a chest x ray or anything. Finally, I talked my husband into going to ER b/c his dr was worthless and he was admitted with pneumonia and pleural effusion. Almost 2 liters of fluid drained from his left lung cavity came back adenocarcinoma. PLEASE be persistent in getting answers and tests to confirm diagnosis. My husband had NO breath sounds in his left lower lobe. If I ever see his family dr on the street, I am afraid for him.
i already had a chest ct and they found a 8mm non calcified nodule. i have had a productive cough for 2 years with lung infections off and on. i dont know what to think. it hurts to inhale but only when i am in certain positions. so i am very scared right now.
Keep going and pestering for more tests, it definitely is alerting you to the possibility of more than meets the eye here, patients usually know their own bodies, keep going back and get some more tests done. What about requesting a PET scan this time. I know the CT done wasn't too convincing but the PET might show up areas that are significant. They will not want to give you this test because of the high coat of it, but keep pushi9ng if you feel something is not right, we are our own best advocates.
good luck and hope it is not cancer.
Sandy
I agree with Karen on the blood in the sputem trick! it gets them to get moving quickly.
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