Why did my lung cancer cause shortness of breath?

Question

Hello doctor,

I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer eight months ago, and for the past three weeks, I have been experiencing shortness of breath that is getting progressively worse, even when I am just sitting still or walking from one room to another. My oncologist told me the tumor has grown, but never fully explained why the cancer is making it so hard to breathe. Is it blocking my airway? Is there fluid around my lungs, or is something else happening inside my chest that is causing this?

I also have high blood pressure, and my cardiologist thinks my heart may be under strain from the cancer, too. Why did my lung cancer cause shortness of breath? Is there anything that can relieve it, even if the cancer itself cannot be cured?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Breathlessness in lung cancer can be very distressing, and, understandably, you want to know what exactly is causing it. In people with non-small cell lung cancer, shortness of breath can happen for a few different reasons:

One common reason is that the tumor may grow inside or near an airway and partially block the passage where air normally moves in and out of the lung. When that happens, the affected part of the lung cannot expand properly, so breathing starts to feel difficult.
Another possibility is fluid collecting around the lung, something we call pleural effusion. Cancer can sometimes irritate the lining around the lung and cause fluid to build up there. When fluid accumulates, it compresses the lung from outside and makes it harder for the lung to expand fully, which leads to breathlessness.
Sometimes the cancer can also affect the lung tissue itself or spread within the chest, reducing the amount of healthy lung available for oxygen exchange. In some patients, anemia, infection, or strain on the heart can also contribute.
Since you mentioned that your cardiologist feels the heart may be under strain, that can add to the feeling of breathlessness as well.

Even if the cancer itself cannot be completely cured, there are still several ways doctors try to relieve breathing difficulty:

If there is fluid around the lung, removing that fluid through a procedure can give significant relief.
If a tumor is blocking an airway, certain procedures, radiation therapy, or other treatments can sometimes open the airway and improve breathing.

In addition, medicines, oxygen therapy when needed, and pulmonary rehabilitation techniques can help control symptoms and make breathing more comfortable. In my experience, many patients do feel better once the exact cause of the breathlessness is identified and treated appropriately.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.