What Is Cancer Cachexia?
Cancer cachexia is a condition characterized by a loss of appetite, progressive muscle wasting, and unexplained weight loss. It is more prevalent in people with advanced stages of cancer. The syndrome would worsen symptoms and reduce survival rates in these patients. More importantly, it would reduce the quality of life and make them less able to tolerate cancer treatments. The next sections will show you more information about cancer cachexia. [1]
Causes of Cancer Cachexia
Substances produced and released by a tumor are the main cause of cancer cachexia. Sometimes, it can be triggered when the body responds to a tumor. However, more studies are still needed to understand the exact mechanism and underlying factors. In general, catabolic metabolism dominates cancer cachexia. In people with this condition, normal metabolism would break down muscle and tissue. It is linked to stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, but any form of advanced cancer can also be at risk. While cachexia is often noticed with cancer, it can occur in other conditions, such as kidney failure, emphysema, heart failure, and AIDS/HIV. [2]