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Palliative cancer care - dyspnoea - Management
How should I assess and decide on management?

  • Take a history and perform an examination and investigations as appropriate.
  • Consider whether the cause of the dyspnoea is known and whether treatment of the cause is appropriate, or whether the emphasis should be on treatment of symptoms.
  • The assessment must take the following factors into account:
    • The stage of illness and the person's prognosis.
    • The person's wishes and those of carers and family.
    • The cause of the person's dyspnoea and whether it is reversible or untreatable.
    • The severity of dyspnoea (e.g. oxygen saturation, level of anxiety and distress caused, and effect of dyspnoea on quality of life).
    • The urgency with which treatment is required.
    • The input of the multidisciplinary team.
Clarification / Additional information
  • Management decisions can be made on the basis of the assessment:
Basis for recommendation

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