Cough in lung cancer: main manifestations and treatment methods

Cough with lung cancer can occur at any stage of the disease. However, this symptom is rarely paid attention to, especially by smokers who take it as a normal phenomenon. The tumor grows safely and metastasizes. In order to detect pathology in a timely manner, it is necessary to know its early signs.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The exact etiology of a malignant lung tumor, like all other neoplasms, is unknown. It is customary to distinguish between predisposing factors:

• Tobacco smoking is a chemical and physical carcinogen for lung cancer. A cigarette contains about fifty harmful substances. The quantity and quality of tobacco smoked is directly proportional to the risk of developing lung cancer. The smoke emanating from this has a negative impact not only on the smoker, but also on others.
• Unfavorable ecology of the air environment where people live. Exhaust gases from cars and waste emissions from industrial enterprises lead to the accumulation in the atmosphere of large amounts of polycyclic hydrocarbons and salts of heavy metals - cobalt, chromium, nickel. Therefore, according to statistics, urban residents get lung cancer more often than the population of villages with a favorable environmental situation.
• Long-term contact with asbestos, uranium, chlormethyl.
• Genetic predisposition.

Background precancerous diseases include chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, and frequent pneumonia.

The mechanism of cough in oncology

The principle of the appearance of cough in tumor diseases is based on the direct or indirect effect of the tumor. Cough in lung cancer has the following mechanisms of occurrence:

• Obstructive - oncology grows inside the bronchus, closing its lumen completely or partially.
• Allergic - carcinoma secretes specific antibodies that the immune system recognizes as foreign. The production of histamine and bradykinin mediators is activated, which trigger the cough reflex.
• Development of stagnant processes and accumulation of excess sputum. In lung cancer, mucus synthesis is stimulated, which leads to irritation of cough receptors.

The cause of the cough may be neoplasms of other organs (lymph nodes and blood vessels, mediastinum), which can compress the bronchus or give metastases.

Characteristics of cough and accompanying symptoms

Signs of cough with a lung tumor depend on the following factors:

• localization of carcinoma - central cancer, peripheral or atypical;
• stages of the process - early (I–II), late (III) and advanced (IV).

In central lung cancer, the tumor grows from the main, lobar and segmental bronchi. The clinical picture resembles pneumonia. A dry cough appears, which disappears on its own and appears again - it is transient.

Subsequently, it becomes permanent and does not disappear, is accompanied by the appearance of shortness of breath and gradually changes - a dry cough turns into a wet one with the presence of mucous and mucopurulent sputum.

The use of antimicrobial drugs leads to imaginary well-being, but pathological changes remain on the x-ray.

Peripheral lung cancer grows from small bronchi and alveoli and, unlike the central type, is asymptomatic for some time. It manifests itself at a late and advanced stage of the neoplasm. A severe paroxysmal cough with mucous, purulent sputum occurs, accompanied by chest pain and shortness of breath.

Associated signs characteristic of a malignant lung tumor:

• unmotivated weakness, fatigue, decreased performance;
• increased sweating;
• decreased appetite, weight loss up to cachexia;
• chest pain that gets worse with coughing;
• shortness of breath at rest and during physical activity;
• increased body temperature;
• pain in the area above the collarbone and in the shoulder with numbness of the fingers is characteristic of carcinoma of the apex of the lung;
• Hoarseness and difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) occur when the tumor grows into the larynx and esophagus.

Frequent sites of metastasis of lung tumors are the brain, mammary gland, stomach, liver and bones.

Possible complications of cough

They develop in advanced stages, when the tumor is at the stage of decay. The process involves nearby organs - trachea, esophagus, vena cava.

The following cough complications are likely:

• Pulmonary hemorrhage, which occurs due to the disintegration of carcinoma or due to tumor growth into a blood vessel. Characterized by coughing up blood, foamy pink sputum, and chest pain. At this moment the person is frightened, pale, his blood pressure drops, and his pulse becomes rapid.
• Respiratory failure develops due to the replacement of normal organ tissue with tumor tissue, which does not perform the necessary function. A person is worried about shortness of breath with cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes, and frequent dizziness.
• Exudative pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura with accumulation of fluid in the cavity between them. Symptoms of intoxication appear, chest pain and shortness of breath intensify.

Complications are life-threatening for the patient and require urgent medical intervention.

Diagnostics

Late and advanced cancer is quite easy to detect, but early stages are difficult to detect, as they are asymptomatic.

In the detection of lung carcinoma, annual preventive fluorography and clinical examination of people with chronic diseases of the bronchopulmonary system play an important role.

Examination plan for a patient with suspected lung cancer:

• Subjective methods - clarifying complaints, life history and illness. The dynamics of the appearance of clinical signs, the possibility of exposure to predisposing factors, and heredity are clarified.
• Physical examination includes palpation, percussion and auscultation. Dullness of percussion sound over the tumor, harsh breathing, and moist fine rales are typical signs of a neoplasm.
• In the analysis of peripheral blood - changes characteristic of oncology (accelerated ESR, leukocytosis, anemia appears at an advanced stage).
• Sputum is subjected to cytological examination to detect atypical cells.

Instrumental methods:

• X-rays, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging of the breast help visualize the tumor.
• Bronchoscopy is needed to penetrate the bronchial cavity for examination and take a biopsy for the purpose of histological examination for the presence of tumor cells.
• With peripheral localization of carcinoma, in some cases they resort to thoracoscopy or thoracotomy.

To exclude metastases and make a complete diagnosis, a comprehensive examination of the body is performed, which includes ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and pelvis, endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract, and computed tomography of the brain.

Cough treatment

A cough with lung cancer will go away on its own if its cause is eliminated, so antitumor treatment is prescribed first.

The following methods of combating malignant tumors are distinguished:

• Radical surgery is performed in the early stages and is aimed at complete removal of the tumor with adjacent lymph nodes as a single block. The main types of interventions are lung resection, pneumonectomy, and lobectomy.
• Radiation therapy is the use of radioactive ionizing radiation to target carcinoma. Used independently (palliative) or as part of adjuvant treatment (pre- and postoperative).
• Chemotherapy is the treatment of a lung tumor with drugs (cytostatics) that stop the growth and reproduction of malignant cells. Prescribed for late and advanced cancer to alleviate the patient’s condition (palliative treatment).

Cough, which constantly bothers a person with lung cancer, is fought using traditional methods with some exceptions: physiotherapeutic thermal procedures are prohibited.

Medicines are prescribed to reduce the frequency and duration of coughing attacks and the unimpeded release of sputum:

• Antitussive drugs are prescribed for a dry, painful cough that disturbs the patient's sleep (Sinekod, Glauvent, Libexin). Contraindicated for pulmonary hemorrhage.
• Mucolytic agents - make sputum more liquid for better removal (ACC, Fluimucil). Suitable for use when coughing with thick, viscous, difficult-to-clear mucus.
• Expectorant medications promote the evacuation of secretions from the tracheobronchial tree (Joset, Doctor Mom, Mukaltin, Ledum, Elecampane). Prescribed for unproductive, unobtrusive cough.
• Combined medications that have several effects at once - Ambroxol, Bromhexine, Broncholitin.

The simultaneous use of antitussive and expectorant medications is prohibited. The secreted phlegm must come out, and a blocked cough reflex causes the opposite effect.

Herbal medicine has a positive effect on lung cancer. The combination of therapeutic effect and safety allows the following herbs to be widely used:

• chamomile,
• sage,
• coltsfoot,
• ginger.

Breathing exercises, physical therapy, walks in the fresh air and comfortable body position are true helpers in this case.

Prevention

It is impossible to avoid coughing with lung carcinoma. Therefore, preventive measures should be aimed at preventing the cause - oncology:

• The main rule is to stop smoking. A bad habit leads not only to lung cancer, but also to neoplasms in other locations.
• It is recommended to limit exposure to harmful chemicals in the air.  
• It is necessary to treat inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract in a timely manner, preventing the infection from becoming chronic.
• While under medical observation, there is no need to neglect scheduled visits to the doctor and follow recommendations and prescriptions. It is necessary to undergo fluorography annually.
• It is important to follow a healthy lifestyle - eat rationally, exercise and exercise, and eliminate harmful habits.

Based on the formula calculated by the World Health Organization, 50% of health depends on lifestyle and only 10% on medicine.

Conclusion

Cough that occurs with lung cancer is one of the key symptoms of this terrible disease. This is a signal to the patient that he needs to see a doctor immediately.

The use of self-medication methods will lead to progression of the disease and metastasis to other organs. The success of therapy for malignant tumors depends on the stage at which the pathological process is detected.

With late and advanced cancer, there are very few guarantees of achieving a positive result.

Source: https://prikashel.ru/bolezni/kashel-pri-rake-legkih.html

Cough with lung cancer: causes, features and methods of relief

Cough with lung cancer is the most common symptom. It is accompanied by chest pain and sputum mixed with blood. Such symptoms appear closer to stages 2-3, which indicates tumor progression. Special medications and practical advice will help alleviate the patient’s condition.

Causes of cough in lung cancer

Coughing is a natural protective reaction of the body, carried out at a subconscious level. It occurs for several reasons:

1. Active tumor growth - when there are a lot of cancer cells, they constantly irritate the nerve endings of the bronchi, producing a response.
2. Secretion - accumulations of fluid in the lungs must be eliminated naturally, which is facilitated by coughing.
3. Difficulty breathing - in the presence of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, coughing helps to relax the muscle fibers of the diaphragm, which should lead to increased oxygen supply to the lungs.
4. The addition of an inflammatory process - pathologically reduced immunity leads to the fact that any pathogenic microorganisms can cause extensive inflammation and death.
5. Disruption of the natural process of ventilation of the lungs, in which the supply of oxygen to the lungs is difficult, hypoxia of brain cells is noted, which is why a cough reflex is formed.
6. Proliferation of lymph nodes, which compress the bronchi, irritating the nerve endings.

The appearance of cough in lung cancer can occur when the tumor is actively growing

Cough does not always accompany cancer. Lung cancer without a cough can progress for quite a long time until the size of the tumor begins to put pressure on the receptors that provoke the cough reflex.

Types of cough

Many people associate the appearance of a cough with a respiratory disease. Thus, under the guise of an acute respiratory infection, cancer can progress, the detection of which occurs at stages 3-4, when treatment is not able to help. The manifestations of lung cancer and tuberculosis are very similar, therefore, in differential diagnosis, the doctor first of all pays attention to the type of cough:

1. Short but frequent - occurs due to constant irritation of the lung receptors by the tumor. It is common for a person to cough, which may result in the release of sputum.
2. Strong barking - similar in manifestations to the cough that occurs with bronchitis. It is deep, barking, accompanied by painful sensations in the throat and chest.
3. Dry cough – causes irritation of the larynx, pain in the throat and sternum. When coughing, no secretions are released, but wheezing can be heard.
4. Wet - when you cough, a lot of sputum comes out. A person cannot control the process, and if the sputum is too thick, the cough intensifies several times.
5. With impurities - during a strong cough, particles of pus, blood, and serous lumps may fly out of the mouth. All these signs indicate severe lung damage, which requires complex treatment.

Many people associate the appearance of a cough with an acute respiratory infection, but under the guise of an acute respiratory infection, cancer can progress

The type of cough has nothing to do with the type of cancer. In some people, it is completely absent until stage 4, when the tumor becomes huge and grows into the lung tissue, irritating the nerve endings.

Methods for treating and relieving coughs due to cancer

A constantly manifested dry cough due to lung cancer or with impurities prevents a person from living fully. Periodic attacks of suffocation require an integrated approach to treatment.

It is impossible to get rid of the root cause of cough, since in most cases lung cancer has an unfavorable prognosis.

Therefore, drug therapy is aimed at reducing the frequency and duration of coughing attacks, affecting the reflex centers in the cerebral cortex.

Medication

The main task of drug treatment is to suppress a coughing attack, as well as the unhindered removal of sputum. For this, drugs such as:

1. Lazolvan – promotes the formation of sputum, making cough productive. Fights inflammation in the lungs, strengthening local immunity. The dosage regimen depends on the characteristics of the disease.
2. Flavamed - makes sputum less viscous, which makes it easy to remove, preventing the development of stagnant processes.
3. Paxeladine - stops a cough attack by acting on the cough centers in the cerebral cortex. Prescribed for barking, dry cough, which manifests itself in attacks and threatens life with the development of asphyxia.
4. Broncholithin - the herbal components of the drug soften the irritated mucous membrane of the larynx, helping to strengthen local immunity, as well as reduce coughing attacks.
5. Stoptussin - affects the nerve endings of the bronchi, blocking their irritation. Moderately dilutes sputum, transforming a dry cough into a wet one. Suitable for long term use.

Treatment of cough with lung cancer requires special attention. It is prohibited to use drugs that block the cough reflex and drugs to thin and remove mucus at the same time. They block each other's action, so there will be no positive result.

Cough tablets for lung cancer, which have mucolytic properties, are prescribed in the initial stages of oncology. For advanced forms of cancer, cough suppressants are used.

These include opioid analgesics that can block the cough reflex in the brain. The most commonly used drugs are Morphine and Codeine.

Long-term use is addictive, but for cancer patients in the final stages, this medicine is the last hope for improvement.

Broncholitin is one of the cough medications for lung cancer

Drinking regime

Sufficient fluid intake leads to the fact that the phlegm accumulated in the lungs comes away faster and less painfully. It is recommended to drink 2-2.5 liters of pure mineral water per day. You need to drink in small sips, but often.

Teas, especially those made from medicinal herbs, are also highly effective. The most effective of them are:

1. Chamomile and mint – chamomile exhibits antiseptic properties, and mint relieves bronchospasm, stopping the cough reflex. Herbs are brewed like regular tea, drinking 2-3 glasses a day. It is especially useful to drink before bed.
2. Lavender and basil - these herbs soften the mucous membrane and reduce irritation. The cough becomes productive, chest pain disappears.
3. Thyme and sage - these herbs are powerful natural antibiotics that can strengthen local immunity. In addition to teas, decoctions are suitable for inhalation.

Along with drinking plenty of fluids, the patient's room should be cool and humid. This microclimate will allow you to retain fluid in the body for as long as possible.

Body position during a coughing attack

The most optimal position in the presence of an attack is a sitting position, slightly tilting the torso towards the knees. You should not take a horizontal position, as this will increase suffocation.

It is also better to sleep in a half-sitting position, placing several vertically placed pillows under your back. The position of the body on the side puts pressure on the tumor, which can increase discomfort and provoke the development of a constant cough.

Phytotherapy

Suppression of cough and elimination of irritation of the bronchial mucosa is achieved through the use of herbal preparations. Their main advantage is that they are completely natural and have no side effects, which cannot be said about medications. Herbs that are good for prolonged coughing attacks:

• saxifrage;
• marshmallow;
• poppy;
• celandine;
• liquorice root;
• ginger;
• sage;
• chamomile.

Marshmallow - an herb from which you can make tea or cough tincture for lung cancer

Herbs can be used to form mixtures from which teas and tinctures are prepared. A specialist will advise you on which herb will help in a particular case. If you have cancer, any self-medication should be excluded, since incorrect actions can provoke rapid growth of cancer cells.

Exercise therapy

Physical therapy is one of the key methods to eliminate the possibility of developing congestive processes in the lungs. If you have cancer, you cannot lie down all the time. Even if you don’t have the strength, you need to get up and do a little warm-up. The most effective are:

1. Walking in the fresh air at a moderate pace - movement provokes the saturation of the lungs with oxygen, which improves the supply of brain cells. General well-being improves, clarity of thoughts appears, and mood rises.
2. Exercises at home - walking in place, bending, moving your torso and arms are suitable. All exercises are performed slowly, based on individual sensations. They should not cause pain or discomfort. In the room where exercise therapy is performed, it is recommended to open the window, as fresh cool air will tone you up and bring more benefits from the exercises.
3. Blowing up balloons - this activity helps develop the lungs, but it should be done carefully. Excessive inhalation and exhalation may cause dizziness and coughing.

Walking in the fresh air at a moderate pace improves the supply of brain cells

Exercise therapy prevents the formation of congestive processes not only in the lungs, but also the formation of bedsores. With the help of a properly selected program with individually calculated loads, coughing can reduce its intensity.

Prevention

It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of developing a cough due to lung cancer. But there are a number of preventive measures that can significantly alleviate the patient’s condition:

1. Completely stop smoking and inhaling tobacco smoke, even if this habit has been maintained throughout your life. Resins contained in smoke can settle in the bronchi, which increases their irritation and provokes a cough.
2. Humidify the air in the room, since a dry microclimate, where it is hot and dry, leads to excessive evaporation of moisture from the body, causing irritation of the mucous membrane.
3. Practice relaxation while controlling your cough reflex. Intentionally relaxing the brain while listening to pleasant music will reduce the symptoms of coughing.

The peculiarity of cough therapy for lung cancer is the selection of medications that would affect its cause. Inflammatory processes in the lungs and excessive accumulation of sputum are treated with antibiotics and mucolytics. A dry, tearing cough requires relief with opioid analgesics. An integrated approach to treatment will achieve the desired results.

Source: https://oonkologii.ru/kashel-pri-rake-legkih-01/

Causes and treatment of cough in lung cancer

Cough in lung cancer is a common accompanying symptom that requires drug therapy. It can be caused by respiratory failure or metastases of a malignant tumor.

Treatment options depend on the underlying cause. Sometimes a viral infection or bacterial disease causes a cough.

Modern instrumental and laboratory methods help to identify the causes of pathological symptoms.

Causes of cough in lung cancer

In lung cancer, cough is often caused by compression of large airways or pleural effusions. Cachexia and respiratory muscle weakness, infection or pulmonary embolism are common causes of cough.

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory disorders, coughing up blood is the main symptom. Almost all patients with amytrophic lateral sclerosis suffer from severe shortness of breath in the final stage of the disease.

It is extremely important to find out which of the suspected causes of cough are reversible and whether all treatment options have been exhausted. Feelings of anxiety, loneliness, tension and sad mood play an important role in the development of the symptom.

Features of clinical manifestations and stage of pathology

The frequency and severity of cough increases in the last stages of the disease.

In a study of 168 tumor patients who had a median survival of about 3 weeks, cough was one of 7 factors associated with a lower desire to live.

In patients with advanced disease and survival time of less than 6 months, respiratory failure was predictive of shorter survival time.

Cancer patients report a rapid onset of symptoms without warning signs. About 80% of patients suffering from cancer describe a severe cough that lasts no more than 10 minutes.

Recent research shows a strong connection with the limbic system in the perception of cough, highlighting the strong emotional impact. Patients with severe respiratory disorders require special drug and non-drug therapy. Timely treatment can significantly improve the quality of life of patients.

Diagnostics

The severity and intensity of cough should be assessed regularly to assess patient burden and the success of therapy. Objective parameters such as respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, or pulmonary function parameters are only moderately correlated with the patient's subjective experience of cough.

It is necessary to distinguish between productive and non-productive forms of the symptom. If a productive cough is reported, the type, color, and amount of mucus should be asked.

In addition to a detailed history and clinical examination (especially auscultation and percussion of the lungs), additional diagnostic methods are prescribed. X-ray of the lungs, sonography of the abdomen and pleural space, and measurement of arterial oxygen saturation help identify the underlying cause.

X-ray is one of the methods for diagnosing cough in lung cancer

However, pulmonary function and patient perception have only a moderate correlation, so the actual cause of cough cannot be inferred from the results of these studies.

Therapy methods

Cough is a complex symptom, so therapy alone is rarely sufficient to achieve a satisfactory result. A specialist will tell you how to relieve a cough with severe cancer. A combination of general measures: non-pharmacological and drug interventions is often necessary. Especially non-pharmacological measures improve the quality of life.

Non-drug remedies

It is important to empower the patient to cope with the symptom and show him how to gain control of the condition. First of all, it is recommended to listen to the experience of the patient (and his relatives) and create a “breathing plan” with appropriate medical and non-pharmacological measures.

Physical or respiratory therapists can teach the patient valuable exercises, postures, and breathing control techniques that can be done at home. Additional relaxation exercises have a positive effect on anxiety and panic. Relaxation exercises, which the patient can use independently, are an integral and effective part of the treatment of cough in cancer.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for cancer has shown significant improvement in seizures. Stimulation leads to improved muscle growth, which in turn leads to relief from shortness of breath. This therapy effect can be used in patients who are no longer able to actively participate in exercise. The effect occurs after 4-6 weeks of active use.

Medicines

Opioid substances are the medications most effective for severe coughs. However, many physicians avoid using opioids in palliative care because they fear respiratory depression.

Recommendations from various specialized societies support the use of opioids for the treatment of dry and wet cough. Not only in tumors, but also in patients with COPD, studies have demonstrated a statistically and clinically significant effect of oral opioids. No studies found respiratory depression.

Fentanyl - a cough suppressant for lung cancer

The new fentanyl has also been shown to be effective and safe for coughs. The systematic review found that of the 13 studies examined, only 2 randomized controlled trials were available, one of which included only 2 patients. Another randomized pilot study showed a statistically significant difference between fentanyl and placebo.

The doses of opioids required to relieve respiratory failure are lower than those required for pain therapy. Usual starting doses are 2.5 mg of morphine every 4 hours for patients with tumors. One study found that more than 60% of patients with a 24-hour dose of 30 mg had less cough intensity.

Many patients are very concerned about taking opioids because they expect unacceptable sedation or drug dependence. This must be actively addressed before starting opioid therapy.

Benzodiazepines have long been used in clinical practice to treat advanced cough and are recommended by many doctors. However, statistically significant effectiveness could not be demonstrated in a systematic review of the literature. Benzodiazepines cause potential respiratory impairment with long-term use due to muscle relaxation.

Dexamethasone is used in cancer patients with shortness of breath. There are currently no randomized studies in patients with tumors. Steroids have not been proven to be effective in people with advanced disease.

To date, there is very little evidence for the use of antidepressants to treat cough.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) result in a potential reduction in the subjective experience of cough through direct serotonergic modulation of respiration.

However, the effect is largely due to the suppression of anxiety and depression than a direct effect on the cough center.

In long-term treatment of COPD and in patients with severe hypoxemia, oxygen may be a useful treatment option. However, the indications for the use of oxygen are still too limited. A large international multicenter study found that in nonhypoxic patients there was no significant benefit from oxygen compared with room air for cough.

Cough therapy in terminal lung cancer

Treatment of cough in the dying phase consists mainly of drug measures. Opioids and benzodiazepines are often prescribed in combination. If the patient can no longer swallow medications, they should be administered parenterally. The dose of the drug is selected gradually under regular monitoring.

When there is severe mucus formation, expectorants help to liquefy, loosen and expectorate the viscous liquid. In addition to nebulized saline and painkillers, ambroxol is prescribed. An important factor in the potential effectiveness of drugs is additional fluid intake, especially when patients are dehydrated.

Antitussives suppress the cough reflex peripherally and centrally. Centrally active antitussives include the opioids codeine and morphine, which act on μ receptors.

Dextromethorphan is another opioid derivative with good antitussive activity and low toxicity.

Dextromethorphan is a drug for the treatment of cough in late stage lung cancer

Inhaled local anesthetics - 0.25% bupivacaine or 2% lidocaine - are used as peripheral antitussives.

There are only a few published data and studies in patients with tumors.

Case reports of individual patients with chronic lung disease, sarcoidosis, or cancer describe that a single treatment with nebulized lidocaine can relieve cough within 1 to 8 weeks.

Use is limited to possible bronchospasm and oropharyngeal deafness after inhalation with risk of aspiration. Levodropropizine is another peripheral antitussive agent, but there is little research on it.

A number of general, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options are used to treat cough and must be combined for successful therapy. In drug therapy, opioids have the best evidence and are considered the first choice drugs.

Benzodiazepines should only be used as a second option and in combination with opioids. The use of oxygen is rarely prescribed to patients without hypoxia. Simpler measures such as hand-held and table fans also help improve patients' conditions.

Source: https://zdorovie-legkie.ru/kashel-pri-rake-legkih-01/

Cough in oncology, its characteristics and treatment features

Cough in oncology is one of the many symptoms that occur against the background of the development of malignant neoplasms. The symptom progresses when the tumor is localized in the organs of the respiratory tract, digestive or endocrine system. The severity of the clinical picture depends on the location of the tumor, the stage of the pathological process, and the nature of the therapy performed.

The mechanism of cough in oncology

The mechanism of cough development in cancer of different localizations is based on the direct and indirect effects of the tumor on the respiratory tract, which causes an increase in the corresponding symptom.

Provoking factors:

• External compression. Cancer of the mediastinum (middle parts of the chest) is accompanied by the growth of a tumor, which pushes aside the corresponding organs with the progression of cough and other symptoms;
• Allergic reaction. As oncology develops, tumor tissue begins to disintegrate over time. The response of the immune system causes the release of histamine and bradykinin - bioactive substances involved in the reflex expulsion of air from the bronchi;
• Mechanical blockage (obstruction) of the bronchial lumen by a tumor. The neoplasm can develop both inside the respiratory tract and growing from neighboring organs;

• Excess phlegm. In case of oncology of the lung or other structures of the respiratory tract, the synthesis of mucus by goblet cells of the ciliated epithelium increases. The result is mechanical irritation of the receptors that provoke the occurrence of the reflex;
• Development of atelectasis. Lung cancer in the later stages may be accompanied by dysfunction of part of the alveoli with gluing and inability to straighten.

Oncological diseases of extrapulmonary localization provoke an increase in unpleasant symptoms indirectly. Often the cause of the corresponding problem is distant foci of tumor tissue (metastases).

Characteristics of cough and accompanying symptoms

The nature of cough in lung cancer depends on the characteristics of the pathological process in a particular patient and its location.

The severity of the symptom can vary from simple coughing to attacks of suffocation with expectoration of blood. The last example is a reason for immediate hospitalization of the patient.

The appearance of blood in the sputum indicates rupture of blood vessels with an increased risk of death.

Features of cough characteristic of different forms of oncology:

• Light cough. The sign appears in the early stages of lung and laryngopharynx cancer. For cancer of extrapulmonary localization, there is no symptom;
• Progressive dry or wet cough, difficult to respond to traditional therapy. The most common form of symptom accompanying cancer of the respiratory system;
• Cough accompanied by pain and bleeding. A dangerous sign that requires hospitalization of the patient. The symptom indicates that the pleura is being drawn into the process with rupture of blood vessels.

Cough in lung cancer is accompanied by a number of accompanying symptoms. The severity of the clinical picture depends on the stage of the disease. Early diagnosis contributes to better stabilization of the patient's condition.

Associated symptoms of cough in lung cancer:

1. Dramatic weight loss;
2. Pallor of the skin with acrocyanosis (blue discoloration of the fingertips, lips, nose);
3. General weakness;
4. Increase in body temperature to 37.5-37.8°C. Against the background of a bacterial infection, fever can reach 40-41°C.

Detection of the disease in the early stages allows for radical treatment to eliminate cough and other signs of respiratory dysfunction and save the patient’s life.

Features of cough treatment for cancer of different localizations

The use of traditional cough remedies for oncology in 75-80% of cases does not bring the desired result. The reason is the presence of a tumor, which is the main provoking factor.

It is almost impossible to completely cure the symptom without removing the malignant neoplasm.

Measures to alleviate the patient’s condition, regardless of the location of the tumor:

1. Drink up to 3 liters of fluid per day;
2. Use of antitussives with a central mechanism of action;
3. Elimination of exposure to tobacco smoke, dusty air and other provoking factors;
4. Regular air humidification. Irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is reduced, which reduces the severity of the symptom.

In parallel, the patient must follow the doctor’s recommendations to minimize the clinical picture. However, despite these methods of stabilizing the patient’s well-being, the effectiveness of treatment depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the size of the tumor.

How to treat cough with lung cancer?

Fact! Treatment of cough for lung cancer is based on eliminating the root cause of the disease. Removal of the tumor can be done surgically or using radiation or chemotherapy.

Depending on the size of the tumor, the oncologist individually selects the optimal option for improving the patient’s health. In 85-90% of cases, a combination of several treatment methods is performed.

Ways to temporarily relieve symptoms of lung cancer:

• Oral use of glucocorticosteroid drugs (prednisolone, hydrocortisone). Medicines have an anti-inflammatory effect and temporarily eliminate cough;
• Systemic chemotherapy. This treatment option demonstrates high effectiveness in improving the health of patients in the early and late stages of small cell cancer.

Traditional antitussive drugs for lung oncology provide temporary relief of the patient's condition. The patient is prescribed drugs that affect the corresponding center in the brain (codeine, glaucine, butamirate).

Taking expectorant and mucolytic medications provokes an increase in the amount of sputum produced. These drugs are used in 20-25% of cases in the early stages of the disease without massive damage to the respiratory system.

Cough therapy for laryngopharyngeal cancer

Cough with cancer of the hypopharynx (throat) is a common symptom that accompanies 75-80% of cases of corresponding oncology. The disease is characterized by the growth of a tumor directly in the laryngeal cavity or compression of the respiratory tube from the outside.

To minimize the unpleasant symptom, comprehensive treatment aimed at eliminating the tumor is required.

If surgical removal is not possible, the following medications are used:

1. Centrally acting antitussives;
2. Glucocorticosteroids. The drugs are prescribed in a course of 2 weeks to reduce local inflammation and reduce the progression of oncology;
3. Opiates (Morphine, Methadone). This group of medications reduces pain, inhibits the cough reflex, and helps the patient relax.

All medications are prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication is unacceptable.

Treatment of cough in thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is a problem that causes reflex coughing due to external compression of the upper respiratory tract. In the later stages of the process, the neoplasm can grow into the cavity of the larynx or trachea with a significant deterioration in the patient’s condition.

In addition to removing the tumor, the following groups of medications are used to minimize cough:

• Opiates. The mechanism of action and purpose of their use are described above;
• Glucocorticosteroids;
• Antibacterial agents. Preference is given to broad-spectrum drugs (penicillins, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins). Prescribing antibiotics is justified when a secondary infection occurs;
• Bronchodilators (Salbutamol) and antispasmodics (No-shpa, Spazmalgon). The goal is to relax the muscles of the respiratory tract to increase the clearance. The effectiveness of therapy with this group of medications depends on the size of the tumor and the degree of compression of the respiratory tract;
• Diuretics (Lasix, Torasemide). Medicines help to quickly reduce swelling, which makes breathing easier against the background of stagnation of blood in the lungs.

At the same time, drugs are prescribed to stabilize the function of the thyroid gland, depending on the nature of the disturbance in its activity.

Cough in oncology - is prevention possible?

Cough that occurs with oncology of various origins can only be treated symptomatically. Complete elimination of the manifestation is carried out after removal of the tumor. An exception is pathology of the respiratory system that is not associated with tumor growth.

Prevention of cough progression during the development of oncology is based on the following points:

• early diagnosis of the disease with selection of appropriate treatment;
• in parallel, the improvement of inflammatory pathologies of the respiratory system. Coughing up sputum with improvement in the patient’s well-being is a sign of properly selected treatment;
• air humidification;
• good nutrition;
• eliminating the influence of provoking factors (smoking, dusty air, chemicals).

There is no specific prevention for the corresponding problem. The choice of adequate therapy remains more important.

Conclusion

Cough that occurs with oncology is an unpleasant symptom that worsens the patient’s quality of life. It is difficult to eliminate the symptom. With the help of modern medications it is possible to reduce its severity. Full recovery is possible only by removing the tumor, which provokes an increase in the symptom.

Source: https://MyKashel.ru/lechenie/kashel-pri-onkologii.html