Treatment of Dyspnea in Cancer Patients

Lauren Shaiova, MD
Attending Physician, Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York
Russell K. Portenoy, MD
Professor of Neurology, Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York

| June 1, 2002

Thomas and von Gunten note the wide variation in presentations, etiologies, and pathophysiologies of dyspnea in cancer patients. Potential therapies are equally diverse. Clinicians should perform comprehensive assessments and exercise judgment in selecting from a broad spectrum of disease-modifying and symptomatic therapies.

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Jay R. Thomas, MD, PhD and Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, FACP

1. Ventafridda V, Spolodi E, De Conno F: Control of dyspnea in advance cancer patients. Chest 98:1544-1545, 1990.

2. Cherny NI, Portenoy RK: Sedation in management of refractory symptoms: Guidelines for evaluation and treatment. J Palliat Care 10:31-39, 1994.

3. Bruera E, MacMillin K, Pither J, et al: The effects of morphine on dyspnea of terminal cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage 5:341-344, 1990.

4. Dudgeon DJ, Lertzman M, Askew GR: Physiological changes and clinical correlations of dyspnea in cancer outpatients. J Pain Symptom Manage 21:373-379, 2001.

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Treatment of Dyspnea in Cancer Patients

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