Cancer breathlessness breakthrough? opioid trial aims to ease suffering

This study is testing whether fast-acting opioid pain medications (fentanyl or morphine) can help control the distressing shortness of breath that cancer patients often feel during physical activity. About 150 patients will take either one of the opioids or a placebo pill daily for two weeks while performing walking tests to measure their breathing difficulty. The goal is to see if these medications are more effective than a placebo at easing this common and debilitating symptom.