Shortness of breath

People with advanced cancer often experience shortness of breath (breathlessness). This is also called dyspnoea.

Breathlessness can occur for different reasons, including:

• fluid surrounding the lungs
• infection
• the cancer itself
• scarring from radiation therapy
• pressure from a swollen abdomen
• anaemia (low red blood cell levels)
• underlying chronic breathing disorders, such as asthma or emphysema
• heart problems caused by chemotherapy.

Symptoms of breathlessness include difficulty catching your breath, noisy breathing or very fast, shallow breaths. Although breathlessness can make you feel distressed and anxious, there are ways to prevent or reduce its impact on your quality of life.

Treatment will depend on the cause of the breathlessness. You may need fluid around the lungs drained or medicine prescribed to treat an infection or other lung problem. If breathlessness is caused by the lungs not supplying enough oxygen to your blood, your doctor can arrange a portable oxygen cylinder.

Find out about things you can do to improve breathlessness. Ask your doctor or nurse about medicines, such as a low dose of morphine, to manage feelings of distress.

Listen to our podcast on Managing Breathlessness when Cancer Is Advanced.