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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

Living With Cancer

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Coping with shortness of breath
Many people with lung cancer experience shortness of breath at some point in the course of the disease. Treatments, such as supplemental oxygen, and medications are available to help you feel more comfortable, but they aren't always enough. To cope with shortness of breath, it may help to:

  • Try to relax. Feeling short of breath can be scary. But fear and anxiety only make it harder to breathe. When you begin to feel short of breath, try to manage the fear by choosing an activity that helps you relax. Listen to music, imagine your favorite vacation spot, meditate or say a prayer.
  • Find a comfortable position. It may help to lean forward when you feel short of breath.
  • Focus on your breath. When you feel short of breath, focus your mind on your breathing. Instead of trying to fill your lungs with air, concentrate on moving the muscles that control your diaphragm. Try breathing through pursed lips and pacing your breaths with your activity.
  • Save your energy for what's important. If you're short of breath, you may become tired easily. Cut out the nonessential tasks from your day so that you can save your energy for what needs to be done.
  • Lower the room temperature. A cooler room may make it feel easier to breathe.
  • Sit near a window. Sitting or lying down in a way that allows you to look out a window can help you feel less confined when you're feeling short of breath.
  • Aim a fan toward your face. A fan that blows on your face may make it feel easier to breathe.
  • Eat several small meals each day. Rather than a few larger meals, eat several small meals throughout the day.
  • Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling rested. If you're having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about medications or other methods that may make sleep easier.

Tell your doctor if you experience shortness of breath or if your symptoms worsen.

Alternative medicine Treatments and drugs
References
  1. Non-small cell lung cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp. Accessed Oct. 12, 2011.
  2. Estimated new cancer cases and deaths by sex for all sites, US, 2011. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-029817.pdf. Accessed Oct. 12, 2011.
  3. Small cell lung cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp. Accessed Oct. 12, 2011.
  4. Johnson DH, et al. Cancer of the lung: Non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1307.
  5. What you need to know about lung cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/lung/AllPages. Accessed Oct. 7, 2011.
  6. Lung cancer prevention (PDQ). National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/lung/Patient/AllPages. Accessed Oct. 7, 2011.
  7. Aberle DR, et al. Reduced lung-cancer mortality with low-dose computed tomographic screening. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2011;365:395.
  8. Greaves SM, et al. The new staging system for lung cancer: Imaging and clinical implications. Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 2011;26:119.
  9. Xalkori (prescribing information). New York, N.Y.: Pfizer Labs; 2011. www.pfizerpro.com/Xalkori. Accessed Oct. 14, 2011.
  10. Avastin (prescribing information). South San Francisco, Calif.: Genentech Inc.; 2011. http://www.avastin.com/avastin/hcp/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2011.
  11. Tarceva (prescribing information). Melville, N.Y.: OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc.; 2011. http://www.tarceva.com/patient/considering/index.jsp. Accessed Oct. 14, 2011.
  12. Kvale PA, et al. Palliative care in lung cancer. Chest. 2007;132(suppl):368S.
  13. Cassileth BR, et al. Complementary therapies and integrative oncology in lung cancer. Chest. 2007:132(suppl):340S.
  14. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). RadiologyInfo.org. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=stereotactic. Accessed Oct. 14, 2011.
  15. Temel JS, et al. Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2010;363:733.
  16. Li Y, et al. Effect of emphysema on lung cancer risk in smokers: A computed tomography-based assessment. Cancer Prevention Research. 2010;4:53.
  17. Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 19, 2011.
  18. 2008 physical activity guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/default.aspx. Accessed Nov. 8, 2011.
DS00038 April 17, 2012

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