Spice of life, China ‘cancer’ man relieved to find chilli from hotpot caused 2-year cough

A man in China who had been coughing for more than two years and feared he had lung cancer was relieved to discover that the cause was a chilli pepper he had choked on during a hotpot meal.

The 54-year-old, surnamed Xu, from Zhejiang province in eastern China, had been taking over-the-counter medication for a persistent cough but saw no improvement.

In late June, concerned about his condition, he sought professional help at the Thoracic Surgery Department at Zhejiang Hospital.

A scan revealed a 1cm mass in his lung and led to fears of pneumonia or a malignant tumour.

A pre-surgery examination confirmed a growth in his right lung, heightening his lung cancer concerns.