How to Handle Mesothelioma Breathing Difficulties: Practical Strategies

Shortness of breath is one of the most common, distressing, and disruptive symptoms of mesothelioma. Whether you’re a mesothelioma patient or mesothelioma caretaker or loved one, mesothelioma-related breathing difficulties can be frightening, exhausting, and both physically and emotionally overwhelming.

However, many mesothelioma patients and families can find ways to manage this symptom throughout their mesothelioma journey—both through medical interventions and at-home methods to reduce the impact of impaired breathing day-to-day. With the right support and strategies, mesothelioma patients may be able to breathe easier and improve their overall comfort and quality of life.

Why Does Mesothelioma Cause Breathing Problems?

The two most common types of mesothelioma—pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma—can both cause breathing difficulties.

Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs (the pleura or pleural tissue). The normal role of pleural tissue is to allow the lungs to expand easily and painlessly. As pleural mesothelioma tumors grow, they can limit lung expansion and lead to the buildup of fluid in the chest cavity called pleural effusion. The pleural tissue itself can also thicken and become less flexible, making it harder and more painful for the lungs to expand. These changes make it harder for the lungs to fully inflate, leading to a feeling of breathlessness and/or tightness in the chest.

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum or peritoneal tissue). This membrane’s normal role is to line your abdominopelvic cavity and surround your abdominal organs, including your lungs—padding those organs and keeping them in place, as well as insulating them and reducing friction between them. As peritoneal tumors grow, they can intrude into the diaphragm or cause fluid buildup (peritoneal effusion), which ay cause shortness of breath.

Both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma patients may also experience breathing difficulties due to inflammation, fatigue, pain, the formation of scar tissue, and anxiety.

Breathing issues experienced by mesothelioma patients may also be rooted in the side effects of mesothelioma treatment. While mesothelioma treatment often ultimately improves prognosis and quality of life, side effects can exacerbate existing symptoms or cause new symptoms in the short term, including breathing issues.

When it comes to mesothelioma-related breathing difficulties, as is the case with any mesothelioma-related symptom, understanding the root cause helps in choosing the best strategies for relief.

Are There Medical Treatments for Mesothelioma-Related Breathing Issues?

The first and most important step in managing breathing problems stemming from mesothelioma is to work closely with your mesothelioma care team. They can determine the specific cause of your respiratory symptoms and can help discern whether there are helpful medical interventions you can try.

After an evaluation, depending on your case, your mesothelioma care team may be able to offer medical treatment options, such as:

• Surgeries and Procedures: Numerous procedures and surgeries can help with certain types of mesothelioma-related breathing problems. These include procedures like thoracentesis (which removes fluid from the space around the lungs, allowing for easier breathing almost immediately), and surgeries like pleurodesis (which seals the pleural space, preventing future fluid buildup).
• Medication: Medications can address root causes of breathing issues, like steroids to reduce inflammation or diuretics to reduce fluid buildup. Some mesothelioma patients may also be prescribed bronchodilators (i.e., asthma inhalers).
• Oxygen Therapy: Supplemental oxygen can be used to boost blood oxygen levels and reduce feelings of breathlessness.

Are There Strategies to Improve Breathing That Mesothelioma Patients Can Use at Home?

Though medical interventions can help, people with mesothelioma may still experience some breathing difficulty in their daily lives. While each case is different, and all methods should be run by your mesothelioma care team to make sure they’re safe for you or your loved one, HERE ARE SOME THINGS ETC

• Positioning: Certain positions can help with breathing by making it easier for your diaphragm to expand. Try:
  • Sitting upright with shoulders relaxed
  • Sitting while leaning slightly forward, resting arms on knees
  • Sleeping propped up with pillows or a wedge
• Fans and Ventilation: Having fresh, cool air flow directed at the face through a fan or an open window can help with the feeling of breathlessness or “air hunger.”

• Breathing Exercises: Certain breathing exercises, like pursed-lip breathing, can slow breathing rates and help you empty your lungs more fully. Ask your mesothelioma care team about which breathing exercises are right for you.
• Conserving Energy: Mesothelioma patients can adjust their routines to reduce exertion and feelings of breathlessness. For example, sitting down while showering, dressing or cooking, or breaking tasks down into steps with rest breaks between.
• …While Getting as Much Gentle Exercise as Possible: While conserving energy and not pushing yourself beyond your limits helps with breathing trouble, it also helps long-term to engage in light physical activity when possible (and if your mesothelioma care team says it’s safe). Exercises like slow, gentle walking or seated stretches and yoga can help with breathing by building muscle and stamina.
• Coping With Anxiety and Emotional Regulation: Many mesothelioma patients experience anxiety, which can exacerbate physical breathing issues. This can create a frustrating cycle in which breathing issues cause anxiety, which then worsens the breathing issues. Finding support through mindfulness, meditation, support groups, counseling, and therapy can help disrupt that cycle.

Know When to Call the Doctor

As always, your mesothelioma care team will be able to guide you in addressing shortness of breath, and you should consult them first for ways to alleviate your specific breathing difficulties, as well as checking any and all breathing tips by your doctors to make sure they’re safe.

Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones should also learn to recognize when mesothelioma breathing issues become serious enough to require immediate medical intervention. While breathing struggles are common among mesothelioma patients, they should always be taken seriously—especially if they worsen or change suddenly. Contact your doctor, mesothelioma care team, or 911 if:

• Breathing becomes abruptly and noticeably more difficult
• You feel dizzy, confused, or extremely fatigued
• You experience noticeable chest pain, wheezing, or blue lips/fingertips
• Your oxygen levels (testable with a pulse oximeter) drop below your prescribed range

In addition to potentially providing quick relief, prompt medical attention can prevent further complications and can even save a life.

Breathing difficulties with mesothelioma can be frightening, but there are many ways that mesothelioma patients and their loved ones can manage this symptom and reclaim a sense of control. By combining medical treatments with home strategies and both practical and emotional support, patients and their families can find relief and breathe a little easier, literally and figuratively.

Contact Us Today for a Free Initial Consultation

Dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis is overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. We can help you explore legal options for financial compensation to ease your burden. Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.