Cancer has many side effects, but one of the worst is cachexia. It is one of the few outward signs of cancer that mark a person as a patient. It is a progressive wasting of the fat and muscle of the body. Even if the person eats, which most cancer...
Lymphoma is a term applied to a diverse group of cancers that can develop in your lymphatic system. Hodgkin's lymphoma, B-cell lymphomas, Burkitt's lymphoma and T-cell lymphomas are a few types. Like most other cancers, lymphomas are associated...
Cancer, or malignant tumors, may arise anywhere in the body. The presentations and symptoms differ according to the site of cancer. However, as the disease progresses, the complications arising from an advanced cancer are very similar regardless...
Catabolic wasting, or cachexia, is a wasting syndrome in which patients rapidly lose weight and muscle mass and suffer from muscle weakness. Conditions such as cancer and HIV are common causes of cachexia. Certain supplements, such as creatine,...
When an elderly relative does not want to eat, it can be emotionally distressing. No cause is identified in approximately 26 percent of cases, according to Evaluating and Treating Unintentional Weight Loss in the Elderly, published in 2002 in...
Cancer patients have special circumstances under which getting adequate nutrition may become problematic. Stanford Medicine Cancer Center says that treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can cause nausea, vomiting, taste alterations,...
The National Cancer Institute states that: "Eating too little protein and calories is the most common nutrition problem facing many cancer patients." Protein is especially important for cancer patients because protein is essential for the body...
Secondary bone cancer indicates the spread, or metastasis, of a primary cancer from elsewhere in the body to the bones. Metastatic disease to bone or other sites represents an advanced stage of cancer, with fewer treatment options and generally...
Carnitine is a compound related to amino acids that is found abundantly throughout your body and plays a critical role in energy production. If you suffer from cancer and are undergoing treatment, carnitine supplementation may provide some health...
According to the National Cancer Institute, there were 49,096 new cases and 11,033 deaths from kidney cancer in 2009. Kidney cancers are included in the top ten most frequent types of cancer. Between 1999 to 2006, the five-year survival rates for...
A healthy diet is imperative for colon cancer patients, not only so they can endure the cancer treatment, but also so they can prevent the occurrence of new tumors. The main nutritional issues that colon cancer patients face are eating enough...
Proteins are substances that are part of cells, tissues and organs throughout the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Protein deficiency is common among people who live in developing countries, those who live in impoverished...
Facial weight loss may be a result of your diet. Unfortunately, if you are dieting, you cannot control where your body weight is lost first. Rather than losing weight in your hips or thighs, for instance, you notice weight loss in your face. Other...
Cells in the body divide and replicate. Some divide rapidly, such as the blood cells and gastrointestinal tract cells, while others divide rarely or not at all, such as some nerve cells. The process of cell division and cell death is tightly...
Nutritional advice about protein requirements for kidney patients can be confusing. Doctors tell some patients to eat more protein, other patients to eat less protein and still others to make no changes at all. The bottom line is that nutritional...
Appetite in cancer patients tends to be poor, a condition also known as anorexia. Approximately 50 percent of cancer patients experience anorexia at diagnosis. Some may experience anorexia for a short period of time, while others will experience...
Protein is a nutrient made up of amino acid chains that serves as a building block for your body. This nutrient is found in a variety of animal-based foods, such as eggs, milk, beef, pork, poultry, fish and lamb. Plant-based foods such as nuts,...
According to the organization Pancreatica, approximately 90 percent of individuals with pancreatic cancer experience weight loss and muscle wasting, which is also called cachexia. This may be due to the cancer itself, cancer treatments or side...
Caloric intake is measured by the energy content of total calories consumed. In some cancer patients, caloric intake is drastically reduced if the individual is overweight or the cancer requires calorie restrictions. According to Seattle Cancer...
Cod liver oil is an excellent source of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid – commonly known as EPA and DHA. Some recent studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids may help people with lung cancer. Cod...
Heart failure is defined as the point at which the heart fails to pump enough blood throughout the body, resulting in fluid retention in the feet, ankles, legs and lungs. It also causes fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath and night coughs. CDC...
For the cancer patient, it is imperative to maintain adequate nutrition before, during and after treatments. Nutrition can help him to maintain muscle mass, strength and nourishment required to withstand chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries....
Flax seeds have a long and distinguished history of use as both food and medicine. Recommended by Hippocrates for digestive pain, the benefits of this seed drew praise in both ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. However, Canada now leads in the...
If you have cancer or chronic wasting diseases such as HIV, you may lose weight, even when you're trying not to, leading to a condition called cachexia. Elderly people without much appetite can also lose excessive amounts of weight due to appetite...
Cancer and other illnesses can cause severe loss of appetite, which can lead to malnutrition at a time when the body needs nutrients and calories. One of the side effects of Megace is increased appetite, which has proven beneficial in patients...
Managing side effects from cancer treatment is an important part of cancer care. Chemotherapy, a type of cancer treatment, can cause several side effects, including loss of appetite and weight loss, according to MayoClinic.com. Knowing how to...
According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 1 million individuals are diagnosed with cancer each year. Because of cancer research, outcomes and incidence rates are improving. Since 1992, the cancer death rate has been dropping. Since...
While not eating enough calories in one day can make your stomach hurt, not eating enough over a long period of time -- weeks or months -- can have harmful effects on your body. Your body requires certain nutrients to stay healthy and keep your...
Congestive cardiac failure, also called heart failure, occurs when the heart is unable to pump sufficient levels of blood through the body. The complications of congestive cardiac failure can be life-threatening. Nearly 300,000 people die from...
