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What Causes Severe Cough After Radiation Treatment?

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Posted on Wed, 19 Apr 2017
Question: How long does the cough from radiation treatments last. Was diagnosed with large cell lung cancer and had 34 treatments ending ob12/5/16. Cancer has diminished over 60 percent but coughing and mucous are awful
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Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Possibility of either post radiation bronchitis or fibrosis is more.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Radiation causes organ damage especially lungs. So post radiation, bronchitis and fibrosis can be seen.
Both of them can cause similar symptoms like cough with expectations, breathing difficulty etc.
So better to consult pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system, CT thorax and PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
CT thorax is needed to rule out fibrosis.
PFT will not only diagnose bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only.
Treatment varies on diagnosis.
So better to first diagnose and then start appropriate treatment.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Dr. Drkaushal85

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Practicing since :2008

Answered : 14998 Questions

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What Causes Severe Cough After Radiation Treatment?

Brief Answer: Possibility of either post radiation bronchitis or fibrosis is more. Detailed Answer: Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. Radiation causes organ damage especially lungs. So post radiation, bronchitis and fibrosis can be seen. Both of them can cause similar symptoms like cough with expectations, breathing difficulty etc. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system, CT thorax and PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). CT thorax is needed to rule out fibrosis. PFT will not only diagnose bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only. Treatment varies on diagnosis. So better to first diagnose and then start appropriate treatment. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.