According to the American Cancer Society, unexplained weight loss is often the first notable symptom of cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, stomach and lung. Other types of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, are more likely to cause weight loss when the tumor grows large enough to put pressure on the stomach. If cancer-related weight loss is significant and is accompanied by muscle loss, you may have a condition called cachexia or wasting syndrome. Cachexia is not the type of weight loss that can be easily thwarted by increasing calorie intake, as it is caused by the fact that the body mistakenly breaks down muscle tissue and fat.
Weight loss is common among people with cancer. May be the first visible sign of the disease. In fact, 40% of people say they have lost weight inexplicably when they were first diagnosed with cancer. Cancer-related weight loss may be different from other types of weight loss.
Doctors refer to a weight loss syndrome called “cachexia,” which is characterized by increased metabolism, loss of skeletal muscle, fatigue, loss of appetite, and decreased quality of life. Cachexia is very common in patients with incurable cancer. Weight loss may depend on the type of cancer you have. Usually, an unrecognized cancer will have other symptoms or abnormalities from laboratory tests, in addition to unexplained weight loss.
Therefore, it is important for cancer patients to maintain their weight in order to have the best possible chance. There are also medications, such as steroid and progesterone therapy, that can help stimulate appetite, promote weight gain, and improve a person's overall sense of well-being. For many cancer patients, unexplained weight loss may be the first notable sign of the disease; estimates put the figure at 40 percent of patients. This can help you increase your strength, get back to a healthy weight, and ensure your body gets the right fuel with key nutrients.
When weight loss occurs for no apparent reason, especially if the fall is dramatic, a variety of physical or psychological causes can be responsible. Exercise specialists can develop personalized exercise plans to help people with cancer prevent muscle loss and increase energy levels. Treatment can also negatively affect how the body absorbs and uses the nutrients it gets from food5, further worsening weight loss. It affects up to 80 percent of people with advanced cancer and contributes to approximately one-third of all cancer deaths.
ASCO also does not recommend that people with advanced cancer and cachexia feed through an intravenous line or feeding tube because of possible complications, unless there are very specific conditions in people in good shape, such as reversible intestinal obstruction, short bowel syndrome, or others problems that cause problems with nutrient absorption. While it's never a good idea to assume that weight loss is %3D cancer, it's always good to know that there are treatments that can help if there are any. While you may be used to eating a balanced diet with an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, you may need to modify this approach if you have lost a lot of weight due to your illness or treatment. If your calorie intake is too low, you will not only lose weight, but it will also reduce your ability to physically and mentally cope with your treatment.
Although weight loss is common in cancer, eating less can mean that the body may not receive the energy, protein, and other nutrients it needs at a time when it needs to be stronger to undergo treatment. If you or a loved one has cancer and is experiencing weight loss, muscle loss, or lack of energy, talk to your doctor and care team. Weight loss is not characteristic of any type of cancer and can occur if a person has colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, or liver cancer. .
