Other effects
Immobility
Immobility or lack of ability to move normally. The possible causes of immobility include:
- muscle weakness (experienced by 57% of women with metastatic breast cancer)
- muscle wasting pain, especially bone pain problems in the nerves spinal cord compression
Inform your doctor about any difficulty you have with movement, so that it can be assessed and controlled as best as possible.
Treatment of immobility includes:
- treating the underlying cause, if appropriate
- physiotherapy to help strengthen muscle and increase mobility
- care to prevent pressure sores
- care for the bowel and bladder
- pain relief before any medical tests that involve movement
Distended abdomen
Some women with metastatic breast cancer may experience a distended abdomen. The possible causes of a distended abdomen include:
- constipation
- cancer in the liver
- fluid in the abdominal cavity
- obstruction of the bowel from cancer
- inflammation of the bowel due to chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Inform your doctor if you experience a distended abdomen, so that it can be evaluated and controlled.
Treatment of distended abdomen includes:
- treating the underlying cause
- removal of any excess fluid in the abdomen
- treating constipation
Breathing difficulties
24% of women with metastatic breast cancer experience breathing difficulties. The symptoms may be very mild or may be severe.
The possible causes of breathing difficulties include:
- infection
- anaemia, low amount of red blood cells in the blood
- cancer in the lungs
- fluid in the pleural cavity
- fluid around the heart
- a rare side effect of radiotherapy
- a rare side effect of chemotherapy
Seek medical attention urgently if you suddenly experience breathing difficulties or a change in the severity of your symptoms.
Treatment of breathing difficulties includes
- treating the underlying cause
- treating any fluid you have on your lungs
- oxygen is usually not needed in the treatment of breathing difficulties, but if it is it can be provided
- counselling or relaxation therapy for women who feel distressed by their breathing difficulty
- anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication
- morphine or other opioid drugs
Headaches
Headaches may be mild or severe, experienced occasionally or more frequently. The possible causes of headaches include:
- muscular tension
- exhaustion
- hypercalcaemia
- change in the acidity of the blood
- cancer in the brain
If the headache does not go away and gradually gets worse, see your doctor about investigating the cause of the headache.
Treatment of headache includes:
- treating the underlying cause
- pain relief
Change in thinking ability
A change in thinking ability confusion, disorientation, agitation, decreased concentration, change in behaviour and memory may occur in women with metastatic breast cancer,particularly in extensive disease.
The possible causes of a change in thinking ability include:
- anxiety and depression
- infection
- medication
- cancer in the brain
- hypercalcaemia
- change in the acidity of the blood
- liver or kidney failure
Treatment of a change in thinking ability includes treating the underlying cause. With the appropriate care, these symptoms are potentially reversible. Seek medical attention if you or your family or friends notice changes in your memory or thinking ability.
Pressure sores
There is a risk of pressure sores developing if you are lying in bed or in any position for long periods. It is important to move around as much as possible.
If you are bedridden your carers will need to move you frequently. Palliative care and community nurses can show your carers how to move you properly,if you are unable to do this yourself.
Incontinence
Some women may lose control over their bladder and bowels, although this is rare.
A community nurse can advise you on how to try to control incontinence, and how to make you feel more comfortable. Seek medical attention urgently if you suddenly lose control over your bowel or bladder, as you may have compression of your spinal cord.
