Cancer cachexia

Cachexia -anorexia represent a broad multi-organ syndrome seen in several chronic diseases. Cancer cachexia (CC ) is a paraneoplastic syndrome whose outbreak is governed and driven by inflammation.

Complex syndrome that combines weight loss , lipolysis , loss of muscle and visceral protein , anorexia , chronic nausea and weaknessCriteria for recognition - most definitions state a drastic loss of body weight for e.g > 10 % Lancet oncology in 2011 defined cachexia as○ weight loss of greater than 5 % over the last 6 months OR○ BMI < 20 and weight loss of > 2 %○ appendicular skeletal muscle index consistent with sarcopenia (muscle wasting ) and weight loss of more than 2 %

Anorexia - A reduction in appetite which can be psychogenic ( anorexia nervosa ) or due to an underlying advanced illness as cancer.

Malnutrition - NICE describes malnutrition as " state in which deficiency of nutrients as energy , protein , vitamins ad minerals causes measurable adverse effects on body composition , function or clinical outcome ". BAPEN recommends using the MUST ( Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool ) which consists of BMI , an unintentional weight loss hx of > 10 % in the last...