Cancer Cachexia
Definition:[edit | edit source]
Cancer cachexia or cancer associated fatigue is defined as a multi factorial syndrome characterized by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass (with or without loss of fat mass) that cannot be fully reversed by conventional nutritional support and leads to progressive functional impairment.
The characteristic feature is the negative protein energy balance that occurs due to reduction in the food intake and an abnormal metabolism.
Classification:[edit | edit source]
There are 3 stages of relevance clinically, forming a spectrum, however not all of these subjects traverse the entire spectrum.
- Precachecia: The early clinical signs like anorexia and metabolic signs like impaired glucose test precede weight loss (≤5%). The progression varies and depends on the cancer type and staging, low food intake, any systemic inflamation,
- Cachexia
- refractory cachexia
