ABSTRACT
This chapter provides guidelines for the non-professional carer and is intended to offer practical advice and ideas. Feeling short of breath is probably one of the most frightening problems one can experience. Sufferers feel frightened and anxious and the carers feel powerless to help. There are some practical things people can do to make life a bit easier for the patient, but one thing to clarify right at the outset is that inhalers are not usually the answer for cancer patients. Equally, oxygen is only helpful for a few carefully selected cancer sufferers and one must not feel that anyone is being neglectful because these have not been offered. Acupuncture can also help but may not be available on the NHS and could be quite expensive. Getting comfortable in bed can be difficult and it is sometimes worth looking into the value of an adjustable bed which allows the patient to position themselves so that their breathing is easiest.
