Reviewed: December 2006

Breathlessness - Management / Self Care

The following are activities that can help you to gain control over your sense of breathlessness:

1. Stop your activity.
2. Get supported in a relaxed position (see the relaxation positions described at the end of this section).
3. Concentrate on your breathing, gradually slowing the rate and deepening your breaths. In your mind say "slower breath, longer breath out" until you feel your breathing responding to your message.
4. If your breathlessness does not ease to a tolerable level with these strategies, call your physician and discuss adjusting your medication.

Relaxation Positions:

The following positions promote relaxation and efficient breathing with minimal effort.

• Lean the lower half of your back against a wall, with feet placed 12" away from the wall. Your shoulders should be relaxed, your arms hanging loosely by the sides.

• Stand and lean forward onto something of the required height. With the arms spread wide apart, rest your elbows and lower arms. The back should be straight.

• Sit and lean straight back. Rest your forearms on your thighs with wrists relaxed, feet on the floor.

• Sit leaning forward from the hips with a straight back, resting your head, shoulders and arms on the pillows on a table. Feet should be on the floor. When you are well relaxed, your arms should be lying loosely on the table while your shoulders and upper part of the chest rest against the pillows.

• If you are lying down make a slope with three or four pillows, with the whole of the side supported. Pillows between the boxspring and mattress help give a gradual slope to your bed.

Breathlessness can be a lonely, frightening and overwhelming experience. To cope with it, you will likely need to use several of the approaches described above. By working with your care team, your breathlessness can be eased and you can feel more comfortable

The BC Cancer Agency maintains a database on commonly used unconventional therapies available to cancer patients.