Hello and thanks for posting

I'm sorry you have an annoying tickly cough.

When cancer spreads to the lungs, it can sometimes lead to irritation in the airways causing a cough. It is important that you let your specialist team or GP know about this symptom. They will assess you and suggest treatments that may help relieve it.

In the meantime, the following tips may help:

If you are coughing up lots of secretions then it may help to increase your fluid intake which may make it easier to loosen any secretions making it easier to cough them up. Try to increase your fluid intake preferably with water. You should aim to drink around 6 – 8 glasses of water a day. Drinking warm honey and water and sucking on sweets or lozenges can also help.

You can try breathing in steam from hot water. You can also try inhaling steam or breathing in salt water (saline) through a small machine called a nebuliser . The machine turns the saline into a fine mist, so you can breathe it deeply into your lungs. Sitting in an upright position with extra pillows might reduce the irritation in your airways. If the cough continues to disturb your sleep or becomes worse then do let your GP know. They can prescribe a cough linctus or suppressant.

I wonder if you have a Macmillan or palliative care nurse involved in your care. Their area of expertise is in the management of cancer symptoms as well as supporting you and the family with the emotional effects of cancer.  They can liaise with the GP ensuring that any symptoms you have are managed. If do not have access to a Macmillan or palliative care nurse your GP can arrange this if you would like them involved in your care.

I hope this is of some help. Give us a ring if you would like to talk things over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Celene