Could radiation therapy for breast cancer be giving me a cough?

Rarely: Rarely radiation to the breast can cause inflammation of a portion of the lung. This can cause cough. It is typically treated with steroids. If you experience cough and shortness of breath during or shortly after radiation you should contact your radiation oncologist.

Yes: As stated by dr. Terstriep, it is rare. Inflammation of the lung because of radiation ( radiation peumonitis), can produce a dry nagging cough typically 6 months out from radiation. It can be treated with steroids. It happens in less than 10% of the patients.

Yes: There is a small amount of lung radiated that usually causes no problems. But sometimes this amount is large enough to cause a pneumonitis that can cause a cough. You need an exam and a lung x-ray to determine if this is the cause.