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Cardiopulmonary Syndromes (PDQ®): Supportive Care - Patient Information [NCI]

This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

Cardiopulmonary Syndromes Overview

Cardiopulmonary syndromes are conditions of the heart and lung that may be caused by cancer or by other health problems. Five cardiopulmonary syndromes that may be caused by cancer are covered in this summary:

  • Dyspnea (shortness of breath).
  • Chronic cough.
  • Malignant pleural effusion (extra fluid around the lungs caused by cancer).
  • Malignant pericardial effusion (extra fluid in the sac around the heart caused by cancer).
  • Superior vena cava syndrome (a blocked superior vena cava, the large vein that takes blood back to the heart).

This summary is about cardiopulmonary syndromes in adults and children with cancer. Section titles show when the information is about children.

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