“How to treat breathlessness in a metastatic breast cancer patient?”
My mother is 67 years old and is suffering from metastatic breast cancer. She is undergoing a treatment however there are times when she feels very breathless. How can I manage this condition for her.
5 Answers
MULTIPLE FACTORS CAN BE CAUSING DYSPNEA IN A PATIENT WITH ACTIVE CANCER AND UNDER TREATMENT WITH CHEMO AND RADIATION; CAUSES MAY INCLUDE HEART OR LUNG DYSFUNCTION, CLTTING DISORDERS AND CERTAINLY ANXIETY; LUNG SPECIALISTS MAY BE ABLE TO NARROW THESE POSSIBILITIES FURTHER AND HELP.
It was unclear from the question whether the breast cancer spread to her lungs. But there are some things that can be done. A fan in someone's face can help according to a study.
Also, morphine is not just a pain pill. It also modifies the body's response and perception to breathlessness. So low-dose morphine can help. Meditation has tremendous power to reduce the symptoms. Breathing treatments (via Nebulizer machine) can assist. Walking and light exercise keeps the body active. Also, make sure an X-ray is done to see if there is fluid around the lung, which can restrict the lung capacity to expand, and that manifests as shortness of breath.
I hope this helps
Also, morphine is not just a pain pill. It also modifies the body's response and perception to breathlessness. So low-dose morphine can help. Meditation has tremendous power to reduce the symptoms. Breathing treatments (via Nebulizer machine) can assist. Walking and light exercise keeps the body active. Also, make sure an X-ray is done to see if there is fluid around the lung, which can restrict the lung capacity to expand, and that manifests as shortness of breath.
I hope this helps
Sorry to hear about your mother. Dyspnea in cancer patients is multi factorial. I would first make sure that there are no reversible etiologies such as underlying pulmonary disease or anemia. If they are present then treating those may help. If there are no reversible issues, then such things as tessalon perles taken regularly may be helpful. Also, having a fan available as the breeze is thought to cut down on the sensation of shortness of breath. As a last resort are the antianxiolytics such as ativan and lastly the opiods may cut down on the uncomfortable feeling. Good luck
Your mom’s doctors need to determine what’s causing her shortness of breath since there are several possibilities:
She could have a pleural effusion (fluid in chest)
She could have a blood clot or pulmonary embolism
She could have lung metastasis
She could have a drug reaction
The treatment depends on the cause.
Good luck
She could have a pleural effusion (fluid in chest)
She could have a blood clot or pulmonary embolism
She could have lung metastasis
She could have a drug reaction
The treatment depends on the cause.
Good luck
The reason for shortness of breath has to be investigated. There are multiple causes and include, but not limited to: progression of cancer (lung involvement or pleural effusion), side effect of chemotherapy (many forms depending on the agent, muscular deconditioning, and others).
The more active she is within her comfort, the least it will progress.
Andres Borja Alvarez, MD
The more active she is within her comfort, the least it will progress.
Andres Borja Alvarez, MD
