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Management of Respiratory Symptoms in People with Cancer

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The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship

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Abstract

Cancer-related respiratory symptoms are a burdensome constellation with substantial morbidity. Breathlessness is a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that may be encountered anywhere across the cancer continuum, but especially towards the end of life. Breathlessness is addressed by treating the underlying cause(s) and simultaneously through global symptom-specific interventions aimed at reducing symptoms and optimising function and quality of life.

Options for the management of chronic breathlessness include non-pharmacological techniques (breathing techniques, activity pacing, use of walking frames, breathing clinics) and medications (opioids, oxygen for hypoxemia, psychotropic drugs, inhaled frusemide). Other conditions such as cough, haemoptysis, pleural effusions and hoarse voice also lead to an increased symptom burden and require similar systematic approaches for diagnosis, treatment planning, and review to minimize each patient’s distress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia

    David Currow

  2. Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK

    David Currow

  3. Discipline, Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Magnus Ekström

  4. Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Magnus Ekström

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  1. David Currow
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Correspondence to David Currow .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Ian Olver

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Currow, D., Ekström, M. (2018). Management of Respiratory Symptoms in People with Cancer. In: Olver, I. (eds) The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90990-5_14

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