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Suggest Treatment For Cancerous Growth On The Lungs
Question: My dad (age 64) had a cancerous growth on the outside of his lung near his esophagus that was treated with chemo and has shrunk. Now he has a chronic productive cough with thick phlegm that interfering with his work and normalcy in life. He is a school bus driver and cannot take anything with alcohol or other impee
ding drugs. What is a best way to reduce/limit his problem so he can better cope with it. He has had a cortisone shot but it only last a month or so.
ding drugs. What is a best way to reduce/limit his problem so he can better cope with it. He has had a cortisone shot but it only last a month or so.
Brief Answer:
Rule out infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query
Here are my suggestions
1. First and foremost thing to do is to rule out an active chest infection by getting a chest x ray and a complete blood count done.
2. If there is an infection he will have to be treated with antibiotics
3. IF there is no infection then the best cough suppressant is syrup linctus codeine. 2 tsp three times a day. It is a powerful cough suppressant.
Productive cough is usually because of an infection, fibrin causing the pulling effect should not cause productive cough. If i were to be your doctor I would have given a course of antibiotic
I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me
Regards
Rule out infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the query
Here are my suggestions
1. First and foremost thing to do is to rule out an active chest infection by getting a chest x ray and a complete blood count done.
2. If there is an infection he will have to be treated with antibiotics
3. IF there is no infection then the best cough suppressant is syrup linctus codeine. 2 tsp three times a day. It is a powerful cough suppressant.
Productive cough is usually because of an infection, fibrin causing the pulling effect should not cause productive cough. If i were to be your doctor I would have given a course of antibiotic
I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr.
1. He has been to his doctor and neither the GM or ONC have done an xray on the chest. So, therefore i do not know if there is an infection. This has been fairly constant since the cancer treatment though; to the point of sleeping issues. The fibrin pulling is what the GM Dr mentioned as a cause for the coughing reaction.
2. I did mention that he is a school bus driver and CANNOT take anything that will effect his driving. Not even NyQuil. Therefore, anything with codeine is absolutely not going to work because he would have to stop working while on the meds.
3. I need something that will not interfere with his driving and can suppress the cough enough that he and others around him are not constantly irritated by the cough.
Thank you, XXXXXXX
1. He has been to his doctor and neither the GM or ONC have done an xray on the chest. So, therefore i do not know if there is an infection. This has been fairly constant since the cancer treatment though; to the point of sleeping issues. The fibrin pulling is what the GM Dr mentioned as a cause for the coughing reaction.
2. I did mention that he is a school bus driver and CANNOT take anything that will effect his driving. Not even NyQuil. Therefore, anything with codeine is absolutely not going to work because he would have to stop working while on the meds.
3. I need something that will not interfere with his driving and can suppress the cough enough that he and others around him are not constantly irritated by the cough.
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for getting back, I am sorry for the short delay in my reply. There was a family emergency.
1. I think an x ray is important at the moment, especially because he has productive cough. Patients with malignancy often get chest infection. Cough due the fibrin should not be productive
2. I am afraid all cough suppressants also have CNS supressant activity. There is no cough suppressants which does not cause mild sedation. The only option would be to take steam inhalations three times a day.
3. All cough suppressants cause mild sedation. The only other option would be to use non sedating antihistamines like levocetrizine, fexofenadine. I usually prescribe fexofenadine in such individuals.
I hope i was of help, if am extremely sorry once again for the delay
Regards
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for getting back, I am sorry for the short delay in my reply. There was a family emergency.
1. I think an x ray is important at the moment, especially because he has productive cough. Patients with malignancy often get chest infection. Cough due the fibrin should not be productive
2. I am afraid all cough suppressants also have CNS supressant activity. There is no cough suppressants which does not cause mild sedation. The only option would be to take steam inhalations three times a day.
3. All cough suppressants cause mild sedation. The only other option would be to use non sedating antihistamines like levocetrizine, fexofenadine. I usually prescribe fexofenadine in such individuals.
I hope i was of help, if am extremely sorry once again for the delay
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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