Causes of Weight Loss in Cancer Patients

Weight loss and cancer treatment often goes hand-in-hand. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation target both diseased and healthy cells. This aggressive treatment invites a host of side effects that interfere with normal body functions. The causes of weight loss in cancer patients can be relatively simple reasons such as lack of appetite due to numbed taste buds or something more complicated like depression. Weight loss with cancer treatment is an indication that the body isn't receiving adequate nutrients. It's important to monitor diet carefully to make sure a cancer patient's weakened body receives proper nutrition.

Mouth Changes

• Chemotherapy targets the healthy cells in the body in addition to the cancer cells. Patients undergoing treatment often experience mouth sores, dry mouth and taste changes. All of these things don't inspire a cancer patient to eat regularly. Throw in the very real discomfort caused by treatment and some patients just completely lose their appetite. This common side effect of treatment can prevent many individuals from enjoying or even attempting to eat regular foods. Many oncologists recommend incorporating soft foods such as milkshakes and slushies into the diet. Eating foods that clean the palate such as pears, sherbet, watermelon, strawberries and mild Clementine oranges help make other foods taste better.

Nausea

• Nausea often causes weight loss in cancer patients through absolutely no fault of their own. Chemotherapy drugs are powerful and affect the rapidly multiplying cells lining the intestines. As a result, many patients experience nausea that can cause weight loss. In many cases, nausea is controlled with strong medications that aggravate an already bad situation by slowing down the function of the intestines to prevent vomiting. Many individuals simply find the thought of food unacceptable. The inability to control vomiting can result in a complete lack of appetite. This side effect needs to be carefully addressed with the oncologist to reach a quick resolution so the cancer patient can receive proper nutrition. Adequate consumption of calories and protein are essential to help cancer patients heal from surgery and treatment.

Diarrhea/Constipation

• Despite the presence of strong anti-nausea drugs to combat nausea, some individuals experience extreme constipation through the first few days after chemotherapy. This occurrence creates great discomfort that often results in a complete lack of appetite. Many people experience a cleansing of the bowels after 5 to 7 days that causes intense and sometimes painful diarrhea. This situation must be discussed with your doctor to monitor weight and fluids levels in the body. Re-hydrating the body after diarrhea with proper fluids or an IV is imperative to restoring health after a bout of intestinal distress. Many individuals find that they just cannot eat during this time.

Emotional Issues

• A cancer diagnosis and treatment often causes patients to feel a great loss of control. Some patients feel that the only thing they can control is the food they choose to eat. Stress and fear play a great role in the motivation of performing every day duties as well as the performance of simple necessities such as eating. The National Cancer Institute recommends eating multiple small meals each day instead of large meals and encourages patients to try new foods to stimulate appetite. Emotional issues need to be addressed with counseling and discussions with the oncologist for optimum health during treatment. Feeling overwhelmed by treatment is a normal part of cancer treatment. However, weight loss coupled with emotional distress needs to be treated as an extremely dangerous situation for a cancer patient.

Fatigue and Pain

• Most cancer therapies don't allow for restful sleep. Chemotherapy and radiation often follow very closely on the heels of major surgery to remove tumors and lymph nodes. This presents the perfect recipe for a pain-filled life with little sleep. Lack of sleep upsets the body's normal functions and can result in decreased appetite and weight loss. Pain often compounds the issue. Resting is so important to a cancer patient to help restore some levels of energy to encourage normal consumption of meals. Pain management should be addressed with a physician to stabilize the patient to encourage regular eating habits.