Objective To identify the best therapy regime for dyspnea in an end-stage cancer patient.Method We searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2006), SUMsearch (1978 to 2006) and MEDLINE (1978 to 2006), and identified 4 systematic reviews and 28 randomised controlled trials. We critically assessed the quality of these studies. Result Evidence supported the use of breathing exercise, desensitisation, oral or parenteral opioids and antianxiety drugs to pall iate breathlessness. Patients with hypoxemia were found to benefit from oxygen therapy. Conclusions Physiotherapy, psychotherapy, oxygen therapy, opioids and antianxiety drugs can be considered in treating cancer patients with dyspnea.