Cachexia primarily refers to continuous weight loss and gradual muscle wasting, commonly seen in patients with advanced cancer. It can also occur in patients with chronic diseases such as AIDS, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These patients often experience a loss of appetite, and even nutritional supplementation may not be effective.
Muscle wasting and weight loss in cachexia are mainly caused by the cancer itself rather than loss of appetite. Even with nutritional support through feeding tubes or intravenous injections, cachexia can still occur.
Currently, to alleviate cachexia, the primary approach is to treat the underlying cancer. If the cancer cannot be controlled, it is difficult to improve cachexia. Sometimes, the use of appetite stimulants such as megestrol acetate or corticosteroids can help improve a patient's appetite, but this usually does not improve the overall condition and these stimulants may cause side effects like swelling, mood changes, and increased risk of blood clots.
If you are caring for a terminal cancer patient, provide as much care and support as possible, including offering a variety of foods. However, do not force the patient to eat if they really do not want to.