Cancer Cachexia Diagnosis
Although the symptoms of cancer cachexia often occur in later stages of cancer, muscle wasting tends to start very early. A doctor can use some options to diagnose the condition. These include:
– Blood tests: to measure inflammatory markers, uric acid, transferrin levels, serum albumin, and white blood cell counts.
– Food intake diary: to cope with or prevent cancer cachexia, it is important to keep a food diary. This can help rule out other causes of weight loss of malnutrition.
– Body mass index: this can provide information about relative body weight and a healthy weight. It is measured with a formula of weight and height. However, BMI cannot be used alone for evaluating cancer cachexia because it does not include the proportions of fat and muscle mass.
– Lean muscle mass: to measure your body composition. Possible tests include bioimpedance and skin folds. [4]