Specifically, in a long-term smoker, why does lung cancer cause a PRODUCTIVE cough, with greater amounts of sputum? I cannot understand this since the cilia are depleted/absent, and if the person previously had a dry non-productive cough, why does it suddenly become productive?
FYI: The question is for a cancer research project for school for my pathophysiology class
Thank you everyone for your answers thus far 🙂 It is much appreciated!