Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer starts in the lungs, it is called lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Not counting some kinds of skin cancer, lung cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the United States. After increasing for decades, lung cancer rates are decreasing nationally, as fewer people smoke cigarettes and as lung cancer treatments improve.
Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer also can be caused by using other types of tobacco (such as pipes or cigars), breathing secondhand smoke, being exposed to substances such as asbestos or radon at home or work, and having a family history of lung cancer.
When cancer starts in the lungs, it is called lung cancer. Lung cancers usually are grouped into two main types called small cell and non-small cell.
Research has found several risk factors that may increase your chances of getting lung cancer.
Different people have different symptoms for lung cancer. Most people with lung cancer don’t have symptoms until the cancer is advanced.
To lower your risk of getting lung cancer, don’t smoke, avoid secondhand smoke, and get your home tested for radon.
Lung cancer screening is recommended only for adults who have no symptoms but who are at high risk for developing the disease because of their smoking history and age.
Lung cancer is treated in several ways, depending on the type of lung cancer and how far it has spread. People with non-small cell lung cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments. People with small cell lung cancer are usually treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Dyspnea is the medical word for difficulty breathing. It's a common symptom in people who have lung cancer or have cancer that has spread to the lungs. Dyspnea happens when you have trouble moving air in and out of your lungs. You can also have dyspnea if your lungs aren't getting enough oxygen.
People who have dyspnea describe it as difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath. They often compare it to feeling like they are suffocating or being smothered. In many cases, you may feel anxious or panic if you think you can’t breathe. Often your anxiety and fears can make the dyspnea worse. By panicking, you can become more breathless and begin a cycle that is hard to stop.
Who gets dyspnea?
You may have dyspnea if you have lung cancer. Or you may have it if you have another type of cancer, such as breast cancer, that has spread to the lungs. It can also happen if you have any of these health issues:
Anemia
Pneumonia
Blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
Emphysema or chronic bronchitis
Heart disease
An unhealthy weight
Asthma or allergies
Some cancer treatments may damage the lungs and cause dyspnea. These include lung surgery, radiation to the chest (that affects the lungs), and certain medicines used to treat lung cancer.
How is dyspnea diagnosed?
Each person may experience dyspnea in a slightly different way. You may be asked to describe your breathlessness as mild, moderate, or severe.
Dyspnea may keep you from doing things you normally do with ease. Your healthcare provider may ask you how your dyspnea affects your daily life, your ability to exercise, and the quality of your life. Tell your provider how it impacts how far you can walk, how you eat, or even how you talk.
To help you talk with your healthcare provider about dyspnea, it may help to keep track of how it affects you. Keep a journal of when you have it, what makes it better, and what makes it worse. Write down questions you have and bring all this information with you to your appointments.
Your provider may also order tests to find out what is causing your dyspnea, if the cause isn't clear. These might include blood tests or tests of your heart or lungs.
How is dyspnea treated?
Dyspnea is usually treated by treating its cause. For example, if fluid is collecting in your lung, your healthcare provider may need to drain the fluid to ease the dyspnea. You may need chemotherapy or radiation therapy to shrink a tumor that is causing the dyspnea. If dyspnea is caused by an infection, you may need antibiotics. If a blood clot is found in your lung, you may need to take blood thinners.
Your healthcare provider may treat dyspnea with medicine. The type of medicine will depend on the cause. You may need:
Bronchodilators to open your airways
Steroids to help reduce swelling in the lungs
Antianxiety medicines to help break the cycle of panic. This cycle can lead to more breathing problems.
Pain medicines to make breathing easier
Your provider may also prescribe oxygen to help with your breathing. Ask your healthcare team about breathing and relaxation methods you can try on your own.
Living with dyspnea
You may find relief by doing relaxation exercises, meditation, or breathing methods. You may also be helped by conserving your energy and limiting your activities. These methods may also help control your anxiety. Anxiety control is an important part of treating dyspnea.
You may also find relief by changing the way you sit or sleep. Try sitting upright in a chair, leaning forward slightly, and resting your forearms on the arms of the chair or on your knees. This can help your lungs expand. Sleeping with several pillows or in a recliner can also help.
Here are 2 breathing exercises to help manage dyspnea. Always talk with your healthcare provider before trying these methods. You can also talk with a respiratory or physical therapist for hints on how to manage dyspnea.
Diaphragmatic breathing
This is also called abdominal breathing. To do this type of breathing, first find your diaphragm. Here's how: Place your fingers just below your breastbone and breathe in. The muscle that moves is the diaphragm. You can also lie on your back and put a book on your belly (abdomen). Watch your breathing pattern as the book rises and falls. Your goal is to make the book rise and fall with each breath.
Pursed-lip breathing
To do this type of breathing, keep your lips pressed together tightly, except for the very center. Take normal breaths. Breathe in through the nose. Then take twice as long to breathe out through the center of your mouth.