Other times, a patient may seem to be eating enough, yet can still lose weight. Weight loss in cancer patients can be a result of the cancer itself or nutrition-related side effects that affect your food intake, such as nausea, taste changes, and decreased appetite. For many patients, the type of cancer and treatment make it hard for them to eat well enough to take in all the calories required to maintain a healthy weight.
These treatments include certain types of:. The leading causes of involuntary weight loss are depression especially in residents of long-term care facilities , cardiac disorders, and benign gastrointestinal diseases. A common concern for caregivers and patients alike is how to promote weight gain in a healthy way.
During and after cancer treatment, it is important to provide your body with adequate nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals. Adding extra protein, fatsfats, and fluidssugar at mealtimes, or nutritional supplements, may help maintain weight. It is important to eat well, even when you have no appetite. If left unchecked, appetite loss may lead to serious weight loss and wasting of muscle marked by loss of strength, as well as compromised immune function.
Cancer treatments can also lead to weight loss. Radiation and chemotherapy commonly cause a decrease in appetite. Weight loss can also be attributable to radiation and chemotherapy side effects that discourage eating, such as:.
Unintentional weight loss, according to the NHS, can be attributed to a number of causes other than cancer including:. Depending on your specific situation, your doctor might recommend curbing weight loss with medication such as:. Some cancer patients who have difficulty swallowing or chewing are given intravenous IV nutrient therapy. People with esophageal or head and neck cancers often have difficulties eating or drinking.
Rapid, unexplained weight loss may an indication of cancer. It can also be a side effect of cancer treatment. If your calorie intake is too low, you not only lose weight, but also lower your ability to physically and mentally cope with your treatment. They can provide an accurate diagnosis and recommend an effective treatment plan. There are many causes of unexplained weight loss. Not all weight loss is serious, but it could also….
Fasting, or not eating food for an extended period of time, is well-known as a religious diet practice. Some are beginning to use it for specific…. Growing evidence points to certain dietary habits increasing or decreasing cancer risk. This article covers everything you need to know about the link…. Cancer and weight loss Weight loss and cancer are closely linked. In fact, weight loss is one of the most common side-effects in people diagnosed with cancer 1.
Do you always lose weight with cancer? Why do you lose weight with cancer? What is cancer cachexia? What nutrients are most important in cancer? However, in cancer, some nutrients are particularly important: Protein: important for building and repairing body cells, getting enough protein is important for cancer patients wanting to maintain or regain lean body mass.
An introduction to cancer and weight loss Cancer is a term used to group together a set of diseases that can affect almost any part of our body; it will affect around 1 in 2 people during their lifetimes. The role of medical nutrition in cancer care Weight loss during cancer, particularly loss of lean body mass, can have a negative impact on the health of a patient, increasing the rate of complications and affecting the success of both treatment and recovery[].
Find out more. Ryan et al. Proc Nutr Soc. Andreyev HJ et al. Eur J Cancer. Hebuterne X et al. JPEN, ; Curr Opin Support Palliat Care ; 3: — Fearon K et al.
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