Hi Mary
Thank you for posting
You first developed a cough in July 2022 following radiotherapy which is still present and causing you to wake during the night.
Radiotherapy treatment given to the breast or chest wall can cause part of the lung to become inflamed and this may result in breathlessness or a cough. This would be considered a late effect of treatment. Generally, these symptoms resolve over time, how long this takes can vary from person to person.
It is important to discuss this symptom with your specialist nurse or treatment team They can assess you and may be able to suggest treatments which could help.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can be helpful and our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. They’ll be a phone call or email away to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen.
You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0114 263 6490 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org, so they can then match you to your volunteer.
You may also be interested in our resources that are particularly for those who have come to the end of their main hospital treatment. These are known as our Moving Forward services and include our Moving Forward booklet and Moving Forward courses.
The courses are open to people who have had a primary breast cancer diagnosis and have finished their hospital-based treatment within the last two years.
Through supportive, open conversations in a safe, confidential space, you’ll connect with people who understand. And you’ll find the tools you need to feel more empowered, confident and in control to begin to move forward with your life.
You can attend Moving Forward either at our face-to-face course or take part by joining online. Find a course near you or register for an online course via the links above or call us on 03457 077 1893.
Do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen to your concerns, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, (Relay UK - prefix 18001).
If you would prefer one of our nurses to call you. To do this, please complete this form t** icking the box agreeing to a call back.**
Our usual opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and 9am - 1pm on Saturday.
Out of hours you can leave a message and we will call you back when we next open.
Best wishes
Julie
Breast Care Nurse
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