Can it be that a mass in the lung cause a chronic cough or coughing for years?

Absolutely: A mass in the lung can irritate the lining of the lung, also called the pleura. This can either cause a charp pain in the chest called pleuritic pain or alternatively, a mass can press against the lining of the airway which will cause an irritation and a cough. Usually the cough will be dry to distinguish from bronchitis, although this is not always true depending on the level of obstruction.