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A member asked:
How can you help a cancer patient with shortness of breath while sitting upright?
8 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Several things: Have the patient lie down, give the patient oxygen. It partly depends on why the patient is short of breath. If it truly is worse sitting, better lying down, that is called platypnea, the reverse of orthopnea. It can be caused by left atrial tumor or clot, pulmonary av fistula, or hepatorenal syndrome. The opposite (less sob on sitting up) is much more common.
Answered 5/17/2019
6.2k views
Depends on cause: Several things can cause shortness of breath in a cancer patient. The treatment will vary depending on the cause. Sorry there is no straight answer, please discuss with your doctor. Good luck!
Answered 12/9/2013
5.2k views
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