Final answer:
A nurse should expect a reduction in dyspnea or difficulty breathing in a client with advanced lung cancer after thoracentesis since the procedure removes excess fluid from the pleural space to improve breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a client with advanced lung cancer has undergone a thoracentesis, a nurse should expect a reduction in dyspnea, which is difficulty or labored breathing. Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove excess fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall (pleural space), which can improve breathing.
This treatment is particularly relevant in palliative care, where the goal is to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life rather than to cure the disease. While cough, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), and chest pain are also common manifestations of advanced cancer, thoracentesis specifically targets the symptom of dyspnea by reducing the pressure on the lungs.