What can we do to calm mom's coughing due to lung cancer radiation?
Based on the description of your mom’s cough and symptoms, it is difficult to establish if what you are seeing is related to your mom’s cancer, the one radiation treatment and or the possibility of an upper respiratory infection occurring in addition to the radiation treatment.
Since the cough syrup is not controlling the cough much and she is having difficulty with her day-to-day activities, I would suggest contacting her physician and ask to be seen specifically for this worsening cough.
The oncologist may want to perform some additional tests to help identify the cause of this additional problem.
If a respiratory infection is not present, then your mom’s cancer could be worsening. If this is the case, you and your mom may want to discuss other medications /comfort measures that could be available for her.
If your mom does have a bacterial respiratory infection, the oncologist will be able to prescribe additional medications, such as antibiotics to help alleviate some of her symptoms.
I hope you find this information helpful in assisting your mother to find some additional relief for this discomfort.
Thanks Linda. She indeed develop a temperature of 100.5 for several days and then pulled out of it just as I was considering taking her to the doc or more...sending her off to the hospital.
It has not returned and the Codeine cough syrup again controls her cough. Strength gradually returned but her head is a mess...thinking and judgment I mean and great memory loss. We have home care now 3 mornings a week and with the understanding that as she worsens then we will add care and eventually she might have to go to a palliative care bed.
All seems to be up and down but essentially a smooth sailing for the moment. Who knows 3 or 6 hours from now??
Again thanks for your very discerning response. Michele
