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Laryngeal cancer radiotherapy side effects (coughing)

zarker
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Hi

Have finished 6 weeks of radiotherapy for T2 vocal chord cancer in jan and voice is slowly getting better and eating almost back to normal. The thing I am suffering with is a constant cough due to an excess of mucus/saliva in my throat, this is particularly bad at night when I'm lying down and I'm finding its keeping me awake nearly all night and driving me mad. I mentioned it to my consultant and he calmly said it was all normal and I should try streaming but nothing seems to help. Its embarrasing when I'm out or at work as the coughing can get so bad that I gag and it sounds like i'm being sick. I just wondered if anyone else had been thorough the same thing and might have any tips on how to control it. I'm find co-codomol helps and the liquid morphine but don't want to have to keep taking that for obious reasons. Please help!

Zarker

Parents
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    Hi Zarker, My sister has just started her radiotherapy on her larynx/vocal chords and she is coughing all the time and like you, can't sleep at night. Did you find any relief - all suggestions welcome. L
  • Offline in reply to Lyda44

    Hi there are u still on the site need advice came across youre post and like u I’m being driven mad by the mucus in throat constant cough that’s making me gag and nearly makes me feel can’t breathe that has me in such a panic I won’t be alone now as had few attacks in house alone freaked me out 

    wishing I had not had radiotherapy as so down and feel will be forever 

    I need to go back to work end of month but can not go back like this 

    is there an end to this help needed please 

Reply
  • Offline in reply to Lyda44

    Hi there are u still on the site need advice came across youre post and like u I’m being driven mad by the mucus in throat constant cough that’s making me gag and nearly makes me feel can’t breathe that has me in such a panic I won’t be alone now as had few attacks in house alone freaked me out 

    wishing I had not had radiotherapy as so down and feel will be forever 

    I need to go back to work end of month but can not go back like this 

    is there an end to this help needed please 

Children
  • Offline in reply to Pauline19647
    Hi there the first 6 months are the worse , I was exactly the same but it does improve with time , you just have to be patient . I'm presuming your consultant deemed the radiotherapy was necessary to treat the cancer and that without things might have been much worse . I'm only saying this as this was my way of getting through it , I just wanted the cancer gone so I could get on with my life so if the radiotherapy caused nasty side affects I just thought it's the price you pay for getting better . The good news is that the coughing will ease , the bad news is it doesnt fully go away but it gets much easier to deal with as time goes on . I'm now 7 years post treatment and I still get mucus but it just feels like the tail end of a cold and it does make me cough but not anywhere near as bad as before . The radiotherapy effectively burns away minute layers of the the larynx so the throat keeps telling the brain to produce mucus to coat the scar tissue. . I find dust sets me off or coffee beans purculating ! Try telling everybody your situation so you don't have to explain when you get a coughing fit and drink lots of water . Oddly enough I find since the treatment I don't get as many colds as I used to ! It will improve , just give it time and be kind to yourself . Good luck . Andy
  • Offline in reply to Pauline19647

    Hi Lyda...was just reading your post....I just finished 28 radiation treatments for vocal cord cancer...the side affects are driving me crazy...the coughing and choking is painful..feels like something is ripping in throat. I gag till I get dry heaves...is this the norm . Omg.  I can't sleep cause I caught all night.  I'm worn out .can't eat much . Very dry mouth one minute then excessive mucas the next . And ideas... 

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