What are the causes of Dyspnea?

Many conditions may cause dyspnea and coughing. In cancer patients, causes may include the following:

Direct effects of the tumor

• A tumor that spreads to airways, the chest cavity, lung, vein that carries blood through the chest to the heart, or lymph vessels near the lungs.

• Pericardial effusion (too much fluid inside the sac that covers the heart).

Indirect effects of the tumor

• Pneumonia, an infection of the lung. Anticancer therapy increases a patient's risk of developing infections.

• Blood clots or tumor cells that break loose and block a blood vessel in the lungs.

• Paralysis of part of the diaphragm.

Treatment-related effects

• Scarring of the lung by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

• Weakening of the heart muscle by chemotherapy.

Conditions the patient may have unrelated to the cancer

• Chronic obstructive airway disease

• Congestive heart failure

• Anemia

• A condition in which the blood is too acidic

• Weakened muscles in the airways that cause spasms.

Conditions with no known physical cause, such as anxiety.