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Managing breathlessness in patients with lung cancer
Lindsay Cairns Oncology staff nurse, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
Breathlessness is one of the most common and difficult symptoms to manage in advanced cancer. Despite the development of non-pharmacological interventions and a shift away from a medical approach to its management, symptom control remains suboptimal. Practitioners need education and support to deliver the best possible care for patients experiencing breathlessness. This article provides an overview of the interventions available to improve quality of life for these patients and explores the need for greater implementation of non-pharmacological interventions.
Nursing Standard. 27, 13, 44-49. doi: 10.7748/ns2012.11.27.13.44.c9450
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review