Dyspnea in cancer: causes and symptomatic treatment.

: Dyspnoea is a frequent symptom in advanced cancer patients. The control of breathing can be impaired by different mental and physical factors that may coincide and change over time. Apart from the treatment of specific pathophysiologic causes, symptomatic management is of utmost importance. Only few controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of symptomatic treatment of dyspnoea in advanced cancer patients are available. There is evidence that systemically administered opioids are effective in alleviating breathlessness in patients with cancer.