ALGORITHM

August 2010
Dyspnea in Adults with Cancer: Screening and Assessment
Screen for dyspnea using ESAS at each visit

ESAS score 1 to 3

ESAS score 4 to 6

Assessment using Acronym O, P, Q, R, S, T, U and V

Onset
Provoking / Palliating

(adapted from Fraser Health)

When did it begin? How long does it last? How often does it occur?
What brings it on? What makes it better? What makes it worse?

Quality

What does it feel like? Can you describe it?

Region / Radiation

Are there any other associated symptoms?

Severity

ESAS score 7 to 10

What is the intensity of this symptom (On a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being none and 10 being worst
possible)? Right Now? At Best? At Worst? On Average? How bothered are you by this symptom?
Are there any other symptom(s) that accompany this symptom?

Treatment

What medications or treatments are you currently using? How effective are these? Do you have any
side effects from the medications/treatments? What medications/treatments have you used in the past?

Understanding / Impact on
You

What do you believe is causing this symptom? How is this symptom affecting you and/or your family?

Values

What is your goal for this symptom? What is your comfort goal or acceptable level for this symptom
(On a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being none and 10 being worst possible)? Are there any other views or
feelings about this symptom that are important to you or your family?

* Physical Assessment (as appropriate for symptom), pertinent History (risk factors).

Mild Dyspnea

Severe Dyspnea

Moderate Dyspnea

Based on discussion with Patient:

Usually can sit and lie quietly
May be intermittent or persistent
Worsens with exertion
No anxiety or mild anxiety during
shortness of breath
Breathing not observed as laboured
Based on Physical Assessment:
No cyanosis

Based on discussion with

Patient:
Usually persistent
May be new or chronic
Shortness of breath worsens if
walking or with exertion; settles
partially with rest
Pauses while talking every 30
seconds
Breathing mildly laboured

Based on discussion with Patient:

Often acute or chronic
Worsens over days/weeks
Anxiety present
Wakes suddenly with shortness of breath
Laboured breathing awake and asleep
Pauses while talking q5-15s

Based on Physical Assessment:

cyanosis
onset of confusion
Often orthopnea present

Interventions for all patients, as appropriate

Cognitive Behavioural Interventions
Provide information and support for management of breathlessness, instructions for breathing control, relaxation, distraction techniques and breathing
exercises
Provide goal setting to enhance breathing and relaxation techniques, enable participation in social activities, and develop coping skills
Identify early signs of problems that need medical or pharmacotherapy intervention
Positioning
Suggest positions that maximize respiratory function while reducing physical effort.
Breathing
Provide ambient air flow on face & cool facial temperatures (use window, fan, or nasal prongs)
Increasing chest expansion can make the most of ones lung capacity and increase oxygen delivery.
Consider referral to a respiratory therapist, physiotherapist or nurse with expertise in managing dyspnea
Assess the need for oxygen
Assess breathlessness what improves and what hinders
Supportive Counseling
The meaning of symptoms cannot be separated from the symptom experience. In order to relieve suffering and provide good symptom support, the health care
professional must explore the meaning of the symptom to the patient.

Dyspnea in Adults with Cancer: Care Map

Mild Dyspnea
Care Pathway 1

PHARMACOLOGICAL

Supplemental
oxygen is
recommended for
hypoxic patients
experiencing
dyspnea.
Supplemental
oxygen is not
recommended for
non-hypoxic,
dyspneic patients.
Systemic opioids, by
the oral or parenteral
routes, can be used
to manage dyspnea
in advanced cancer
patients.

Moderate Dyspnea

Severe Dyspnea

Care Pathway 2

Care Pathway 3

PHARMACOLOGICAL

NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL

For Patients with PPS 100% - 10%:

Attend to the meaning of the symptom (or attend to

Non Opioids
May use benzodiazepines for anxiety.
There is no evidence for the use of systemic corticosteroids.
Systemic Opioids
For opioid-nave patients:
Morphine (or equivalent dose of alternate immediate-release
opioid) 5mg po q4h regularly and 2.5mg po q2h prn for
breakthrough dyspnea.
If the oral route is not available or reliable, morphine 3 mg
subcut q4h regularly and 1.5 mg subcut q1h prn for
breakthrough dyspnea.

If dyspnea is acute or there is an unexpected change further

For patients already taking systemic opioids:

Increase the patients regular dose by 25%, guided by the total
breakthrough doses used in the previous 24 hours.
The breakthrough dose is 10% of the total 24-hour regular
opioid dose, using the same opioid by the same route.
o oral breakthrough doses q2 hrs as needed.
o subcutaneous breakthrough doses q1hr as needed, due to
more rapid peak effect.
Do not use nebulized opioids, nebulized furosemide, nebulized
lidocaine or benzodiazepines.

For Patients with PPS 100% - 20%

If patient has or may have COPD, consider a 5-day trial of a
corticosteroid.
o Dexamethasone 8 mg/day po or subcut or IV
o Prednisone 50 mg/day po
o Discontinue corticosteroid if there is no obvious benefit after 5 days.
If the patient does not have COPD, but has known or suspected lung
involvement by the cancer, weigh the risks before commencing a 5-day
trial.
- Other potential benefits, such as for appetite stimulation or pain
management, may justify a 5-day trial of a corticosteroid .
Do not start prophylactic gastric mucosal protection therapy during a 5day trial of a corticosteroid, but consider such therapy if the
corticosteroid is continued past the trial.
Prochlorperazine is not recommended as a therapy for managing
dyspnea.
No comparative trials are available to support or refute the use of other
phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine and methotrimeprazine,
however oral promethazine may be used as a second-line agent if
systemic opioids cannot be used or in addition to systemic opioids.
For Patients with PPS 30% - 10%:
Consider a trial of chlorpromazine or methotrimeprazine, if dyspnea
persists despite other therapies.
o Methotrimeprazine 2.5-10 mg po or subcut q6-8h regularly or as
needed.
o Chlorpromazine 7.5-25 mg po q6-8h regularly or as needed
Anxiety, nausea or agitation, may justify a trial of chlorpromazine or
methotrimeprazine.

fear/anxiety).

assessment may be required to identify potentially treatable

causes.

PHARMACOLOGICAL

For Patients with PPS 100% - 10%:

Systemic Opioids
For opioid-nave patients:
Give a subcut bolus of morphine 2.5 mg (or an
equivalent dose of an alternate opioid).
o If tolerated, repeat dose every 30 minutes if needed.
o Consider doubling dose if 2 doses fail to produce an
adequate reduction in dyspnea and are tolerated
o Monitor the patients respiratory rate closely, since the
time to peak effect of a subcut dose of morphine may
be longer than 30 minutes.
If intravenous access is available, consider giving an IV
bolus of morphine 2.5 mg (or an equivalent dose of an
alternate opioid) to achieve a more rapid effect.
o If tolerated, repeat dose every 30 minutes if needed.
o Consider doubling dose if 2 doses fail to produce an
adequate reduction in dyspnea and are tolerated
o Monitor the patients respiratory rate closely, since IV
boluses of morphine result in faster and higher peak
effects.
Start a regular dose of an immediate-release opioid,
guided by the bolus doses used.
o For the breakthrough opioid dose, consider using the
subcut route initially for severe dyspnea until the
symptom comes under control.
For patients already taking systemic opioids:
Follow the same suggestions as above for opioid nave
patients, with the following changes.
o Give a subcut bolus of the patients current opioid
using a dose equal to 10% of the regular, 24-hour,
parenteral-dose-equivalent of the patients current
opioid (a parenteral dose is equivalent to half the oral
dose).
o Consider giving an IV bolus of the patients current
opioid, using a dose equal to 10% of the regular, 24hour, parenteral-dose-equivalent of the patients
current opioid.
o Increase the regular opioid dose by 25%, guided by
the bolus doses used.
Psychoactive medications
Consider a trial of chlorpromazine or methotrimeprazine, if
severe dyspnea persists despite other therapies.
Methotrimeprazine 2.5-10 mg po or subcut q6-8h
regularly or as needed.
Chlorpromazine 7.5-25 mg po or IV q6-8h regularly or as
needed.
Consider benzodiazepine for co-existing anxiety.

Follow-Up and Ongoing Monitoring

If dyspnea remains unrelieved despite the approaches outlined above, request the assistance of a palliative care consultation team.
For full references and more information please refer to CCOs Symptom Management Guide-to-Practice: Dyspnea document.
Disclaimer: Care has been taken by Cancer Care Ontarios Algorithm Development group in the preparation of the information contained in this Guide-to-Practice document.
Nonetheless, any person seeking to apply or consult the Guide-to-Practice document is expected to use independent clinical judgment and skills in the context of individual clinical
circumstances or seek out the supervision of a qualified specialist clinician. CCO makes no representation or warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content or use or
application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.