Cancer Research UK main site

Osephegus surgery

Tew
Offline

Hello, I am just looking any advice for my mummy. She had 8 weeks ago surgery to remove a cancerous tumour

from her oesophagus.  She had been doing well, then she had alot of fluid in her lung, this is going down but she is constantly coughing which is really upsetting her and hurting her. She seems to not get relief. She is sucking dry sweets and getting natural air and walking .. she is tube fed straight to tummy and is managing small amounts of food. Can anyone offer any advice to soothe cough  , will it disappear  or settle. Any advise would be helpful. Thank u

  • Hello Tew and thanks for posting, 

    I am sorry to learn about your mummy and can understand that this constant cough must be very troublesome.  

    I'm afraid I can't be sure what is causing this cough so I don't know when it is likely to settle or what else to suggest, your mummy needs to speak to her surgeons about it to find out what they think and get some advice from them about what can be done to relieve it. 

    Sometimes after surgery reflux can occur, this is when stomach contents come back up and can travel as far as the throat. Because there is acid in stomach secretions which can be irritant, acid reflux can cause a cough. When this happens medicines to reduce stomach acid may help. But I don't know if reflux has anything to do with your mummy's cough so I think it is something to ask her surgical team about and get their input. If there is a specialist nurse in the hospital team they might be a good person to contact. 

    I hope things improve for your mummy soon.

    Best wishes,

    Julia

  • Offline

    Hi Tew

    I and others have discussed the post operative cough on another thread on numerous occasions and yes while it is annoying it does gradually go away as recovery continues , i found regular flushing out of the sinuses helped greatly in improving this situation and now i have none at all , i am nearly 2 years post operative but did have the cough for most of the first year , just be patient  it's been a major operation and recovery takes time , take care.

    Regards

    Douglas 

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.