Cough since September

Hi. Wondering if anyone can help. Im a 31 year old female usually fit and healthy. 
I've been back and forth to the doctors since September wirh a cough which started off dry but since January has become more of a wet cough and I'm now coughing up brown flem. I've coughed blood up only once in November time. Alongside my cough I've had weight loss nearly a stone since November, I have left shoulder pain and pain in my upper left back. My doctors have done bloods which came back fine and a chest X-ray. I have been referred to physio for the pains but that isn't helping. I've had courses of antibiotics but still not helped the cough. Im worried the X-ray could have missed something. Any thoughts? I keep getting told by the doctors im young so shouldn't worry but it's not always the case. 

  • Hello Hayleast, 

    It must be rather inconvenient to be having this persistent cough since September. You did well to flag this with a doctor and it seems the doctor took it seriously and it's reassuring that the bloods and chest X-ray came back fine. It's unlikely the X-ray would have missed something but I can understand why you are still worried given that physiotherapy isn't helping and the antibiotics haven't sorted the cough either. 

    As the doctors said, given your age and the fact you have had an X-ray and blood tests, it's unlikely to be anything sinister but it would be great to find the cause of these symptoms and get a proper diagnosis and treatment to deal with these issues. 

    It might be worth considering getting a second opinion and you can find out more about this on this page. 

    I hope you feel better soon and the cough eventually goes away as it's certainly gone on for too long!

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator