What Is a Lung Cancer Cough?
A cough that never goes away or gets worse over time is among the most common symptoms of lung cancer. You might expect a lung cancer cough would be severe, but it isn't always. In fact, there's no specific type of cough that comes with lung cancer or tells you that's the cause of your cough.
A lung cancer cough could be deep and chesty or subtle. It may feel like a tickle in your throat. You might find yourself needing to clear your throat often. A lung cancer cough could sound wet or it might be dry.
Of course, everyone coughs now and then. It’s a protective reflex that helps your body get rid of particles, fluid, irritants, or other things in your airways. Coughing is a normal and healthy response we all have. But not all coughs mean the same thing. Especially ones that linger. The most important thing to note is how long you've had a cough, especially one that isn't explained by some other cause you know about.
Studies show at least 65% of people with lung cancer have a nagging cough by the time they’re diagnosed. That number jumps to 80% or higher for those with advanced disease. That’s when cancer spreads to other parts of your body. Talk to your doctor sooner rather than later if you have an unexplained cough. Lung cancer is easier to treat when you catch it early.
Lung Cancer Cough Causes
Lung cancer doesn’t always cause a cough. But there are several reasons why it might.
For starters, tumors can irritate your airways and trigger your cough reflex.
Lung cancer can also cause fluid to collect between your lungs and chest. That’s called pleural effusion. It may cause coughing along with shortness of breath and chest pain.
Tumors can also narrow your airways. That blocks your body’s ability to easily expel mucus. As a result, germs can stick around in your lungs and make you sick. You may start to get frequent infections like bronchitis or pneumonia, which also cause coughing.
Lung Cancer Cough Symptoms
Lung cancer cough often starts off dry (without mucus) and comes in spasms. It may feel like you constantly need to clear your throat. Later on, you may start to cough up blood or rust-colored mucus (sputum). That’s called a wet cough or a productive cough.
It’s persistent, which means it lasts more than 8 weeks.
People with lung cancer cough tend to feel very tired. You may not be able to catch your breath.
Common features of lung cancer cough include:
- Constant throat clearing
- Coughing up blood or lumps of jelly
- A tickle in your throat
- Wet or dry coughing
An ongoing lung cancer cough may also cause:
- Trouble sleeping
- Throwing up
- Headache or dizziness
- Muscle strains
- Less control of your bladder
Lung cancer: Early signs
Along with fatigue and breathlessness, other common symptoms associated with lung cancer include:
- Depression
- Weight loss without trying
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble with physical activity
- Chronic lung infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia
You may also have:
- Chest pain (especially when you cough, take deep breaths, or laugh)
- Hoarseness
- Wheezing
Lung cancer: Advanced signs
If lung cancer spreads to other parts of your body, you may have:
- Pain in your bones or other places
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Nervous system changes, like headache, weakness or numbness, or balance problems
- Yellow skin and eyes
Lung Cancer Cough Treatment
Your treatment depends on what’s causing your lung cancer cough. If it’s from a tumor, you’ll likely cough less when you treat your lung cancer. You may need chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, or surgery. You’ll also need to treat any other health conditions that may be contributing to your cough.
Lung cancer cough medications
Some medications treat lung cancer cough. They include:
- Prescription or over-the-counter cough suppressants
- Drugs that help you clear mucus (if you have a wet cough)
- Bronchodilator inhaler
- Nebulizer with lidocaine
- Opioid medication like morphine or codeine
Inhalers
Inhalers with corticosteroids may be helpful for some people. But you’ll need to talk to your doctor before you use one. Steroids can affect how your immune system responds to certain kinds of cancer treatment.
Incentive spirometer
Your doctor may suggest an incentive spirometer. That’s a machine that expands your lungs. It can help you take bigger, deeper breaths. It’s something you can do at home after you have surgery. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to use it.
Endobronchial therapies
In some cases, endobronchial therapies may help. That’s when your doctor uses special tools to clear away tumors from your airways. They can do this more than once. And they may put a small tube in your airway (called a stent) to keep it open.
Cough suppression exercises
Especially if your cough isn't productive, your doctor may suggest cough suppression exercises as an alternative or along with other treatments. The reason is that coughing can cause irritation that makes you keep coughing. It also can leave you breathless and exhausted. Strategies to try to limit your coughing include:
- Telling yourself you don't need to cough when your coughing is not productive
- Taking regular sips of water
- Sucking on candy or ice
- Chewing gum
- Swallowing hard
- Drinking hot honey and lemon or ginger tea
- Using a humidifier or breathing in steam
- Sleeping with your head propped up
- Coughing softly when you need to cough
Other strategies that may help include:
- Massaging your throat, neck, or shoulders to relieve tension
- Breathing control exercises to relax the throat
- Breathing in through your nose and out through your lips
- Breathing in and out through your nose only
- Breathing in through your nose in a few short sniffs then out gently through pursed lips
What Are Other Causes of Coughing?
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can trigger a cough. So might inflammation or scarring from lung cancer surgery. But you can have a cough for reasons other than lung cancer or its treatment.
Causes of chronic cough
Common causes of chronic cough include:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Asthma
- Other lung diseases
- Heart disease and heart failure
- Chronic or eosinophilic bronchitis
- Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Common causes of acute, temporary, or sporadic cough
Other causes of coughing that goes away or happens only occasionally include:
- Air pollution
- Allergies to pollen, mold, or dust
- Postnasal drip
- Cold or flu
- Bronchitis, pneumonia, or COVID-19
- Asthma
Irritants causing cough
Many irritants or allergens in the environment can cause coughing, including:
- Smoke
- Chemicals, including cleaning products or perfumes
- Mold
- Dust
- Pollen
- Pet dander
Medications causing cough
Some medications may cause chronic cough, like:
- ACE inhibitors
- Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Leflunomide
- Omeprazole
Self-Care Tips for Lung Cancer Cough
If you smoke, quit. And try to keep away from people who are sick. Respiratory viruses can cause infections that’ll worsen your cough.
Talk to your doctor about home remedies that may help. They’ll let you know what’s safe to use during cancer treatment. Here are some things that might be worth a try:
- Over-the-counter cough suppressants
- Throat lozenges or hard candies
- Warm water or tea with honey or ginger
- Deep breathing or relaxation exercises
- Humidifiers
When Should You See a Doctor About a Cough?
Less than 2% of chronic coughs are caused by lung cancer. But it’s a good idea to see your doctor if your cough is new and lasts more than a few weeks. If you have a history of chronic cough, tell your doctor if there’s a change in your symptoms.
Here are some questions that may help you find the cause of your cough:
- How long have you had it?
- Is it painful?
- Do you feel like you need treatment to control it?
- How many times a day does it happen?
- Do certain things make it better or worse?
- Does it interrupt your conversations?
- Do you have trouble breathing?
Your doctor will likely give you antibiotics if they think you have a lung infection. If you have bronchitis or pneumonia along with lung cancer, medication may or may not help you feel better for a little while. Follow up if your cough doesn’t go away or if it comes back in a couple of weeks.
A chest X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan can show the inside of your lungs. It’s OK to ask for these kinds of imaging tests if your doctor doesn’t order them.
Get a second opinion if your doctor can’t get to the bottom of your cough.
While many doctors can diagnose lung cancer, you may need special help from a pulmonologist or pulmonary oncologist. Those are doctors trained to diagnose and treat lung diseases, including lung cancer.
Takeaways
Most of the time a cough isn't a sign of cancer, but persistent coughing is a common sign of lung cancer. Lung cancer cough can vary a lot, so it's important to see a doctor if you have an unexplained and persistent cough. If you have lung cancer cough, your doctor also can help with treatments and other strategies to help you relieve the coughing.
Lung Cancer Cough FAQs
What does a lung cancer cough sound like?
Lung cancer cough can sound different from one person to the next. There's no specific sound that will tell you that the cause of your coughing is lung cancer. If you have a cough and are worried it may be a sign of lung cancer, see a doctor.
Is a cough a common symptom of lung cancer?
Yes. Chronic or unexplained coughing is considered a common symptom of lung cancer.
How long does a lung cancer cough last?
Lung cancer cough will tend to persist for weeks and may get worse over time. If it's caused by a lung tumor, it may get better with cancer treatment. You can take other steps to try and ease your coughing as well.
