Cough with Opdivo treatment

Mrs. Amie – relax, everything is going to be alright.

Not to be alarming, but I had a cough that was a tumor.  Opdivo didn't give me a cough. But it took some treatments to make it go away…

I'd let the oncologist know – there's no harm in that. My fiance developed a cough and it turned out his lung mets had progressed significantly. He wasn't on any immunotherapy at that time (he was still recovering from a craniotomy and radiation) so not sure about coughing side effects from that. But when he mentioned to his radiation oncologist that he'd developed a slight dry cough, they immediately scheduled a CT scan and found the progression. I always think it's better to keep the docs informed. They'll tell you whether there's anything they should do now or not. It could always just be a cold or allergies! 🙂 My fiance has a cold right now and I totally get the "anxiety filled brain" thing — I jump every time he coughs. But he's okay right now. Just a cold!!

Your husband's cough could be related to many things.  He could have a cold, allergies…..or when living with melanoma…a tumor (though most lung tumors are without symptoms…been there done that!!!…until they are larger…but it is variable) or a reaction to the treatment itself.  The best thing to do is to call his doc and let them know it is happening so they can develop a plan of action.  Pneumonitis (fancy word for lung inflammation) is very common with immunotherapy.  It can become life threatening, but often stays rather mild and presents as a persistent cough.  I am an asthmatic, which made mine a bit worse, but experienced wheeze and cough after my infusions.  However, many folks who do not have asthma experience that as well and sometimes a simple inhaler with albuterol or even inhaled corticosteriods can make all the difference if his docs think that is the problem.  But….the docs can't help unless you tell them.  Armed with these possibilities – given them a call.  Celeste

I asked about pneumocitis (sp?). Nope, although that is a noted side effect. No progression either. You get used to it. It’s lessened a bit.

Hope yours is also uneventful.

About 3 weeks before I was diagnosed with 7 tumors in my lungs I developed a dry itchy cough, and a pain in my side when I coughed, never had any cough issues before. After my second combo the cough and pain both went away and I was sure that the tumors were shrinking and the next scan had significant shrinking.