The Importance of Early Detection of Cancer Cachexia

Cancer cachexia is a complex state of cancer. It appears at the end of cancer. And it is a point after which there is no return possible. Cancer cachexia is best defined as the waste of skeletal muscles. Further, the process is involuntary and does not involve any effort of man to reduce weight. Well, after reading that, you might think that what causes cachexia . Soon as the body begins to feed itself on the muscles, the cancer cachexia. However, some medical researchers agree that cachexia even happens before the weight loss symptoms. And what indicates its happening is still a consideration.

The cancer cachexia does not only drives cancer patients to the end. But before that, it also worsens their condition. Such as the intolerable reaction towards cancer treatment. One of the worst scenarios is cancer fatigue. It keeps on increasing without pausing at all. Indeed that is quite difficult for the patient. An unfortunate fact is that usually cachexia is not diagnosed. And that affects the quality of the cancer treatment for the patient. Well, this can give you the importance of early detection of cancer cachexia. Further, if cancer cachexia is detected in the early stage, the quality of a patient’s life can be maintained and improved.

Here are some effects of early detection of cancer cachexia:

1. Anorexia: Anorexia cuts down appetizer. This is one of the major symptoms of cachexia. Indeed, it is a certain point of entry for cancer cachexia. A normal decrease in appetite is like having less desire to eat. But in anorexia, the patient has no desire to eat at all. Once anorexia comes into the light, there is a chance to avoid the later stages. Further, some of its symptoms include change of taste, soar mouth, constipation, nausea, and depression.

2. Weight Loss: After the identification of anorexia this stage comes into play. An expert dietitian who has the experience of working with cancer patients can help in assembling a plan for the patient. That will be according to the present illness state. Certainly, there are a few foods that the patient can eat when suffering from anorexia. And that can help in avoiding weight loss.

3. Muscle Waste: The muscle waste will begin if no step is taken after identifying anorexia. But if you are successful in tackling anorexia. There will be no or least muscle waste.

Dividing cachexia into stages can help in identifying it before it can do any damage. One of the researches suggested a grading system to analyze and identify cachexia. As per that research, the grades go this way:
0: Nothing visible, with just a loss of 2.4% of the weight. BMI score should be normal or more.
1: Weight loss between 2.5 – 6%, with BMI between 20 and 25.
2: Weight loss between 6 – 11% and BMI range 20 to 28.
3: Weight loss over 11% to 15% and BMI is under 20.
4: Weight loss tops 15% and BMI is under 20.
Everything so far on early detection of cachexia is theoretical. But trying it can help in saving a life or two.