What is cachexia?

 

Cachexia is a term derived from the greek word kakos and hexis meaning bad condition which affects up to 80% of cancer and AIDs patients. This condition is a common symptom in cancer patients and is associated with poor performance status, reduced quality of life and mortality rates. 

 

• It is a complex metabolic disorder accompanied with a list of symptoms, the most pronounced symptom being dramatic involuntary weight loss (more than 5% of body weight in the previous 6 months) not easily reversed by intake of food or calories alone. However, this may be less obvious in a population where the body weight is above ideal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Other asscociated symptoms involve progressive loss of lean muscles, asthenia (fatique and general feeling of weakness), anorexia (decreased appetite) and impairment in functions.

 

• It is a distressing symptom for relatives and families to witness and tension in relationships may occur as a result. This is due to pressure exerted on patients to consume more food in order to reverse the weight loss. 

 

• This condition as mentioned previously  is associated with negative outcomes such as reducing the survival time of patients, reduced tumor response to medications and increases risks of toxicity from treatment. Psychological well being is also affected producing distorted self image associated with physical changes in the body. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• However, cachexia is not a symtom specific to cancer patients and can occur in other conditions such as COPD, sepsis and chronic heart failure.

 

• More common in solid tumours located in  pancreas, lung, stomach, colon and oesophagus.