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A man in China, who had endured a persistent cough for two years, was relieved to discover that the cause was not cancer but a piece of chili pepper lodged in his lung.
The 54-year-old man, identified only by his surname Xu, hails from Zhejiang province in eastern China. He had been self-medicating with over-the-counter drugs, but his condition showed no improvement.
In June, Xu finally sought help at the Thoracic Surgery Department of Zhejiang Hospital. A CT scan revealed a 1 cm-long mass inside his right lung, raising concerns about pneumonia or a malignant tumor. Further investigation also showed enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, intensifying Xu’s fear of lung cancer.
On July 3, Xu underwent surgery to remove part of his lung tissue for testing. However, doctors were astonished to find a foreign object - the tip of a chili pepper.
Xu then recalled choking and coughing severely during a hotpot meal two years ago, suggesting he had inhaled the pepper. Zhu Xinhai, Director of the Thoracic Surgery Department, explained that the chili pepper had likely traveled into Xu’s lung through his airway during the choking episode. The pepper caused an enlarged lymph node in his right lung and was hidden under tissue, making it difficult to detect through standard examinations.
Because the pepper was embedded in his bronchial tubes for an extended period, Xu developed a lung infection that led to his chronic coughing. Ye Jian, Director of the Respiratory Medicine Department, noted that finding foreign objects in patients' lungs is not uncommon, with cases involving animal bones, earrings, and even dentures.
Xu’s story quickly became a sensation on Chinese social media. One user remarked, “It’s really impressive that he was able to endure the coughing for two years before going to the hospital. He’s truly a master.”
