It just occurred to me that perhaps someone on here might have some ideas about a persistent cough which Tee has had since her lobectomy. Initially we thought that it might improve over time but it didn't. Then her PCP took her off of lotrel (amlodipine/benazepril) and substituted amlodipine alone since benazepril is notorious for causing a cough. That hasn't worked either so we're going to bring this up again with her lung surgeon tomorrow when she goes to obtain the results from her first CT scan after surgery.

Anyone have any ideas?

Tom

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Timeline for Tee's Lung Cancer

2/24/11 Mass noted routine chest x-ray
3/1/11 CT Scan
3/28/11 PET Scan--rt lung & parotid gland
4/11/11 Biopsy NSCLC
5/13/11 CT Scan prior to surgery on 5/19/11 revealed something on adrenal gland--surgery resked 6/1/11 and new PET scan sked.
5/26/11 PET Scan--clear adrenal gland but shows something in colon.
5/31/11 Flexible sigmoidoscopy--removes one polyp-Normal
6/1/11 Lobectomy rt upper lobe--all normal. No chemo or radiation indicated at this time.
9/6/11 Excision of tumor & part of parotid gland. Local pathology favored an atypical pleomorphic adenoma with final diagnosis to follow consultation with expert in head and neck pathology. Consultation also yielded uncertain results--favor benign but results are still "suspicious". Surgeon recommends monitoring on monthly basis and we concur.

My suggestion would have been to talk to the surgeon about it, and I see that was your plan. I hope he had some answers for you.

cindy

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age 56
surgery 6/20/03, stage 1B, upper left lobectomy
started adjuvant chemo on 08/14/03
3 cycles--cisplatin/gemzar
finished chemo 11/6/03
now 9 years post-lobectomy, annual x-ray and follow-up with surgeon
follow-up with oncologist every year/bloodwork and clinical exam

2001 early stage breast cancer/surgery and radiation only, no chemo needed. Mammograms once a year,

Just passed 11 year mark for the breast cancer and 9 year mark for the lung

Tom, does she have a pulmonologist as a regular doctor. You'd think after 4, almost 5 years I did, but I didn't. You'd think, having survived lung cancer, that a lung doctor would be at the top of the list!

Anyway, a persistent cough can be symptomatic of so many things. I've had asthma my whole life, and sometimes that cough is indicative of me being exposed to one of the allergens that irritates the asthma.

Now that I'm on oxygen, I notice that I also get a irritated cough when my O2 is low. I went to the grocery store yesterday and notice it when I got in the store. I sat down, and with a few minutes time, it got better. My oxygen got low and it made my lungs "hungry" for air.

Please have her continue to have it checked out. It could be as simple as allergies, to not so simple.

Take care,

MI Judy

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6/07 DX NSCLC, Left Upper Lobe wedge resection: Stage 2.3/4, (2B?) Adenocarcinoma, measures 2.5x1.5x1.1cm. Involving visceral pleura but not through it. 5 rounds chemo, carboplatin and Taxol. Subsequent scans NED.

1/11 3.5 mm node found. 10/11 CT node now 8 mm, and new 6 mm node. 11/11 CT Pet shows slight uptake. 1/4/12 Biopsy - Pneumothorax complication. 1/14/12 Lobectomy of upper rt. lobe. NSCLC Adenocarcinoma in situ, nonmucinous (bronchioloalveolar carcinoma) 1.4cm involves pulmonary parenchyma.
3/14/12 Begin 4 cycles of Cisplatin/Navelbein, with Neulasta shot
4/6/12 Chemo changed to Carboplatin/Navelbine without Neulasta shot. Reduced chemo by 50% due to intolerance.
7/5/12 CT scan is clean, NED for lung cancer! There are issues with liver and stomach that will be investigated but not believed to be because of cancer. Wait and see!

*Avatar was taken 7/3/12 on our way out to see the Fireworks on a friends boat on their lake!

Mom dx SCLC 1/96, passed 10/19/96, age 62
Dad dx Brain cancer 4/87, passed 6/87, age 57
Sister dx Brain cancer 4/83, passed 12/83, age 25

Tom, sorry the change in med didn't solve the cough issue. It can be so troublesome especially when no one seems to give a reason. Here's hoping someone will hit it spot on soon.

Judy in KW

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Cytology report on fluid removed from lung after pleural effusion and pneumonia Sep 07 showed adenocarcinoma cells. Dx IIIb NSCLC Oct '07 at MDACC, Orlando. Fol 6 rounds Taxol/Carboplatin/Avastin and 2 Avastin, CT/PET 4/1/08 pleural thickening gone and no active cancer cells. 11/3/08 STILL NEVD. CT/PET/MRI 5/4/09 Cancer back, still in the pleura and chest wall, small amt of fluid, all in left lung.
5/11/09 Start on Alimta every three weeks.
7/13/10 Had Alimta on road in Corning NY.
8/24/09 Scans show some improvement. Continue on Alimta.
9/14/09 Chemo on road in Mt Holly NJ.
10/6/09 Started regular Alimta infusions in Key West.
11/3/09 CT and PET scans showed significant improvement. Some issues already resolved.
2/3/2010 No evidence of residual or recurrent disease. NED! Stay on Alimta.
5/6/10 Am considering myself still NED until/unless proven otherwise in July. Rabid radiologist thinks he sees something suggestive of similar to some abdominal cancer. No light up on the PET. Am hoping for the best. Stay on Alimta and scan in 9 wks instead of 3 mos.
7/8/10 Chest CT unchanged (NED Feb '10). Infiltration in the region of the omentum is probably slightly more prominent than before. Diverticulosis requiring antibiotics.
Jul, Aug, Sep, continued Alimta in Corning NY, Portsmouth OH and Mt Holly NJ.
10/14/10 Chest CT unchanged from Feb '10. Findings likely representing progressive nodular peritonal carcinomatosis in the midabdomen. Treatment changed to Tarceva started in Nov.
12/15/10 Chest CT unchanged. Abdomen changes compatible with peritoneal carcinomatosis again identified with mild progression noted.
3/16/11 CT chest unchanged. CT abdomen progression ascites (fluid). Progression of soft tissues nodularity on the peritoneal surface anteriorly with diffuse omental involvement.
4/13-15/11 Hospitalized at MDA. Removed 4 1/2 litres (8-9 lbs) of fluid from abdomen 4/14. Started on taxotere before release on 4/15.
5/16/11 Hospitalized for fever, neutropenic. Treated with intravenous antibiotic and antiviral. Given blood transfusion. Note that KW Cancer Center did not give me my Neulasta shot after my chemo on May 6. Onc had me cancel my 5/26 chemo until after my scan on Jun 6. Was discharged on oxygen. Test w/Dr Gerth 5/26 indicated I could go off sitting and sleeping O. Will do walking test 6/2.
6/2 Did not get requisite numbers on walking test. Left for Orlando 6/5 still on oxygen.
6/6/11 MRI normal; CT stable. Taxotere and Neulasta at MDA 6/7 and 6/8.
6/13/11 Appointment with Dr Olham in KW. Off oxygen week of 6/16.
8/8/11 CT scan showed stable with perhaps some lessening of fluid. Stay on Taxotere.
10/10/11 CT chest still clear, CT abdominal lining stable. Stay on taxotere.
12/19/11 CT chest clear, CT abdominal lining stable, MRI clear. Stay on taxotere.