There may be pleural effusion, edema, distention of neck veins, rapid heart rate and rapid breathing rate. There may be GI symptoms such as early satiation, indigestion, and other GI problems. Ascites is often related to tumors in ovaries, endometrium, breast, colon, stomach, pancreas, and colon. Dyspnea with engorged neck veins, facial swelling, changes in consciousness, cough, hoarseness, and noisy breathing. Lymphangitis carcinomatosis is the infiltration of pulmonary lymph by tumors.
Symptoms are similar to emphysema and the dyspnea is unexplained by other causes.
In all cases, the role of anxiety in resulting from or contributing to dyspnea should be considered and treated. Most of the causes listed above are amenable to treatment, at least in early stages or when the patient is relatively strong. Morphine works by improving the quality of breathing and decreases both dyspnea and the anxiety that accompanies dyspnea. Oxygen is helpful, but not indefinitely. At the same time, however, decreased activity increases the risk of pneumonia.