Tips for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Breathlessness
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Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: 8 Tips to Manage Shortness of Breath

From relaxation techniques to exercise, a number of approaches may help relieve the discomfort.
Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: 8 Tips to Manage Shortness of Breath
Everyday Health
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Updated on June 4, 2025
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Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: 8 Tips to Manage Shortness of Breath

Learn some methods of managing shortness of breath if you have metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: 8 Tips to Manage Shortness of Breath

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Shortness of breath — also known as dyspnea — is a common problem among people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

While it’s hard to know exactly how prevalent it is, research suggests that up to 60 percent of patients with advanced lung cancer experience dyspnea.

A person with dyspnea might be able to breathe normally while sitting or standing, “but [if] they take some steps, go up a flight of stairs, or walk around the mall, [they] feel short of breath,” says Jonathan Riess, MD, an oncologist and a lung cancer specialist at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California.

A number of causes, including blood clots, infection, fluid buildup, or growth of the cancer, or even anxiety, can cause shortness of breath in people with NSCLC. “Finding the cause is critical to treating the symptoms,” Dr. Riess says.

If you experience any worsening in your breathing, it’s important to let your doctor know right away, says Riess, so that he or she can try to identify the main cause and treat it. In addition to any medical treatments your doctor may prescribe, there are strategies to help you manage shortness of breath.

1. Quit Smoking

If you’re still smoking, it’s important to stop. Smoking tobacco can cause or aggravate shortness of breath in a number of ways — from raising your risk of lung and airway infections to directly limiting the ability of your lungs to take in oxygen.

A previous study found that about 50 percent of current or former smokers had respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, even if they had preserved pulmonary function of their lungs.

RELATED: The Best and Worst Ways to Quit Smoking

2. Move, and Take Deep Breaths

If the alveoli — the tiny air sacs in your lungs where carbon dioxide and oxygen are exchanged between the lungs and the bloodstream — aren’t regularly expanded and filled up with air, they can collapse slightly, leading to an increased risk of infection, says Riess. “Taking deep breaths and walking around as much as possible helps keep the lungs open,” he says.

3. Exercise

Gentle exercise can strengthen the muscles you use during respiration. Studies have shown that a pulmonary rehabilitation program may decrease symptoms of dyspnea and boost exercise tolerance.

 These programs typically require you to go two to three times a week for 4 to 12 weeks of aerobic exercise and resistance training along with education and behavior-modification instruction.

4. Prevent Infections

A lung infection — like pneumonia — is a common reason for breathing problems among people with NSCLC, says Riess. You can reduce your risk of future infections by getting a seasonal flu shot, making sure you are up-to-date with your pneumonia shot, staying current with the latest COVID-19 vaccination guidelines from the American Cancer Society, and washing your hands frequently.

5. Be Aware of Adverse Reactions

Some cancer treatments can lead to an inflammation of the lungs known as pneumonitis.

“It’s kind of an allergic reaction,” Riess explains. Similarly, fluid may accumulate in your lungs because of infection, cancer, or cancer treatments. “Finding out what is causing the fluid buildup is essential to properly treating it,” says Riess.

6. Ask if You Need a Bronchodilator

If you have COPD, NSCLC and its treatment, as well as any lung infections, can aggravate your wheezing and other breathing difficulties. In such cases, Riess says it’s important for people to treat their symptoms with an effective bronchodilator. Sometimes steroids are also necessary to reduce inflammation in the airways. Talk to your doctor about treatment options if you have COPD.

7. Manage Anxiety

About half of patients with advanced lung cancer experience anxiety.

 And anxiety can play a role in shortness of breath, Riess says. “It can be very stressful to be going through cancer treatment and everything associated with it. Anxiety treatment can involve nondrug approaches like relaxation techniques and psychotherapy, as well as medications for both long-term treatment and the management of acute symptoms."

8. Consider Palliative Care

Palliative care is designed to improve comfort. Options for shortness of breath may include opioid drugs like morphine, which can reduce the sensation of not being able to breathe adequately. Ask your doctor if there’s a palliative care program where you’re being treated, or if they can refer you to one.

The Takeaway

  • Breathlessness, or dyspnea, is a common experience among people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • Breathlessness can be caused by a number of things, including anxiety or infections.
  • Gentle exercise and deep breaths can improve symptoms and prevent infections.
  • It’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause of the breathlessness and receive proper treatment for it if you have NSCLC.

Resources We Trust

Additional reporting by Julie Marks.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Saleh N. Should Dyspnea in Lung Cancer Be Medicated? CancerNetwork. September 24, 2018.
  2. Diagnosing and Treating Shortness of Breath. American Lung Association. November 20, 2024.
  3. McKleroy W et al. Longitudinal Follow-Up of Participants With Tobacco Exposure and Preserved Spirometry. Journal of the American Medical Association. August 1, 2023.
  4. Shenoy MA et al. Pulmonary Rehabilitation. StatPearls. July 25, 2023.
  5. Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Cleveland Clinic. July 25, 2023.
  6. COVID-19 Vaccines in People with Cancer. American Cancer Society. May 19, 2025.
  7. Pneumonitis. Mayo Clinic. July 30, 2024.
  8. He Y et al. Sleep quality, anxiety and depression in advanced lung cancer: patients and caregivers. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. November 16, 2022.
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Walter Tsang, MD

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Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Walter Tsang, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist, hematologist, and lifestyle medicine specialist. Inspired by the ancient Eastern philosophy of yang sheng ("nourishing life"), Dr. Tsang has developed a unique whole-person oncology approach that tailors cancer care and lifestyle recommendations to each patients’ biopsychosocial-spiritual circumstances. He partners with patients on their cancer journeys, emphasizing empowerment, prevention, holistic wellness, quality of life, supportive care, and realistic goals and expectations. This practice model improves clinical outcomes and reduces costs for both patients and the healthcare system. 

Outside of his busy clinical practice, Tsang has taught various courses at UCLA Center for East West Medicine, Loma Linda University, and California University of Science and Medicine. He is passionate about health education and started an online seminar program to teach cancer survivors about nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep health, and complementary healing methods. Over the years, he has given many presentations on integrative oncology and lifestyle medicine at community events. In addition, he was the founding co-chair of a lifestyle medicine cancer interest group, which promoted integrative medicine education and collaborations among oncology professionals.

Tsang is an active member of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society for Integrative Oncology, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He currently practices at several locations in Southern California. His goal is to transform cancer care in the community, making it more integrative, person-centered, cost-effective and sustainable for the future.
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A freelance health writer and editor based in Wisconsin, Quinn Phillips has a degree in government from Harvard University. He writes on a variety of topics, but is especially interested in the intersection of health and public policy. Phillips has written for various publications and websites, such as Diabetes Self-Management, Practical Diabetology, and Gluten-Free Living, among others.

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