{"id":791348,"date":"2026-05-12T15:32:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/791348\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T15:32:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:32:23","slug":"cachexia-wasting-syndrome-in-cancer-patients-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/791348\/","title":{"rendered":"Cachexia (wasting syndrome) in cancer patients: What to know"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li>Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by unintentional weight loss and a significant loss of muscle. <\/li>\n<li>Cachexia can be caused by several health conditions, including cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease and certain infectious diseases. <\/li>\n<li>Cachexia has three stages, and it\u2019s easier to intervene and prevent weight loss when it\u2019s caught in the first stage. <\/li>\n<li>Treatment for cachexia may include medicine, diet changes, exercise and supportive care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Losing weight when you\u2019re not trying to can be frustrating. But it may also be cause for concern.<\/p>\n<p>Cachexia, sometimes called wasting syndrome, is a syndrome characterized by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/cancer-treatment-side-effect--involuntary-weight-loss.h00-159384312.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">unintentional weight loss<\/a> and a significant loss of muscle. It could be a sign of cancer or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/diagnosis-treatment\/emotional-physical-effects.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">side effect of cancer treatment<\/a>. Or, it could be caused by other health conditions. The sooner cachexia in cancer patients is diagnosed and treated, the better their chance to maintain or gain weight and improve their physical function and quality of life.<\/p>\n<p>Here, I\u2019ll explain more about cachexia, including who it affects, how it\u2019s treated and why early intervention is important.<\/p>\n<p>What is cachexia?<\/p>\n<p>Cachexia is more than just unintentional weight loss. It also includes severe skeletal muscle wasting, which is the progressive breakdown of your muscle tissue that controls movement and strength. As cachexia progresses, it causes your body to become extremely weak and decline in function.<\/p>\n<p>What health conditions cause cachexia?<\/p>\n<p>Cachexia can be caused by several health conditions, including:<\/p>\n<p>What causes cancer cachexia?<\/p>\n<p>The term \u201ccancer cachexia\u201d refers to cachexia that is associated with cancer. It is typically characterized by unintentional weight loss as well as a significant loss of muscle and fat.<\/p>\n<p>Cancer patients often take in fewer calories, either due to treatment side effects or the disease itself. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/treatment-options\/radiation-therapy.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">radiation<\/a> to the head and neck can cause <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/what-is-mucositis--4-things-to-know-about-this-cancer-treatment-side-effect.h00-159774078.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">mucositis<\/a>, which makes swallowing food painful. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/treatment-options\/chemotherapy.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chemotherapy<\/a> can often cause <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/diagnosis-treatment\/emotional-physical-effects\/nausea.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">nausea<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/diagnosis-treatment\/emotional-physical-effects\/appetite-changes.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">appetite changes<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/depression-during-cancer-treatment--when-it-s-more-than-the-blues.h00-159225723.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Depression<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/anxiety-hacks--7-tools-to-manage-stress-and-worry-in-the-moment.h00-159537378.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">anxiety<\/a> can also play a part because when you have emotional and psychological distress, the gut tends to shut down. And sometimes when you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/diagnosis-treatment\/emotional-physical-effects\/fatigue.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">fatigued<\/a>, you just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/eating-well-when-you-dont-feel-well.h00-159781968.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">don\u2019t feel like eating<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, cancer increases your metabolism because your body requires more energy to fight off cancer. So, your body\u2019s need for more energy when you\u2019re taking in fewer nutrients can lead to a loss of weight, muscle and fat.<\/p>\n<p>Cachexia is fairly common in cancer patients, most often in those with advanced-stage disease. Patients who are cachectic tend to have worse treatment outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>In a survey of cancer patients in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/diagnosis-treatment\/care-centers-clinics\/supportive-care-center\/clinics.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UT MD Anderson\u2019s Supportive Care Clinic<\/a>, about 50% to 60% were classified as cachectic. For patients with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/pancreatic-cancer.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">pancreatic cancer<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/colorectal-cancer.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">colorectal cancer<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/lung-cancer.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lung cancer<\/a>, that number is close to 80%. We tend to see varying degrees of cachexia, depending on the underlying cancer type.<\/p>\n<p>For example, sarcopenia, the gradual loss of strength and muscle mass without fat loss, is seen more often in patients with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/breast-cancer.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">breast cancer<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancer-types\/prostate-cancer.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">prostate cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>What are the stages of cachexia?<\/p>\n<p>Clinicians classify cachexia into three stages.<\/p>\n<p>Pre-cachexia<\/p>\n<p>In this stage, you have unintentional weight loss that is less than 5% of your body weight. Your symptoms may include a loss of appetite and metabolic changes like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/how-to-reduce-inflammation-in-the-body.h00-159853767.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">inflammation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s best to catch cachexia in this stage before it progresses. It may be easier to intervene and prevent weight loss.<\/p>\n<p>Cachexia<\/p>\n<p>In this stage, you have either lost:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>More than 5% of your body weight over the past 6 to 12 months, or<\/li>\n<li>More than 2% of your body weight with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/is-bmi-the-best-body-weight-calculator.h00-159778023.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Body Mass Index (BMI)<\/a> less than 20<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Symptoms include loss of muscle, strength and appetite.<\/p>\n<p>Refractory cachexia<\/p>\n<p>This is the most severe stage of cachexia, with a loss of more than 15% of your body weight. At this stage, skeletal muscle wasting is severe and often irreversible, particularly in patients whose cancers are no longer responding to treatment.<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms include extreme loss of weight and muscle mass, as well as functional decline.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>How is cachexia diagnosed?<\/p>\n<p>Diagnosing cachexia is important, specifically in its earliest stage, when treatment is most effective.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important for clinicians to document patients\u2019 weight, changes in weight and body composition.<\/p>\n<p>When someone is diagnosed with cancer, these things are documented regularly. With cancer patients, I recommend monitoring their weight at least every three months. In the research setting, clinicians are studying the use of body composition assessment tools to calculate muscle mass. There is research that shows these assessments are better predictors of survival.<\/p>\n<p>At UT MD Anderson, we\u2019ve also started initiatives to document malnutrition risk, which is broader than just cachexia. Malnutrition risk describes a person who may be getting enough nutrients but doesn\u2019t get enough of certain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/vitamin-d-deficiencies-what-to-know.h00-159701490.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">vitamins<\/a> or essential minerals. This can also play a part in overall health.<\/p>\n<p>How is cachexia treated?<\/p>\n<p>At UT MD Anderson, we focus on treating and managing the symptoms of cachexia. Treatment usually includes a combination of the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Medication<\/b>: Doctors can prescribe medicine to help with appetite stimulation and weight gain.<\/li>\n<li><b>Healthy diet<\/b>: Everybody should aim for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/prevention-screening\/manage-your-risk\/diet.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">healthy diet<\/a> that includes plenty of fruits, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/how-many-servings-of-vegetables-do-adults-need-per-day.h00-159622590.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">vegetables<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/5-things-to-know-about-grains.h00-159700701.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">whole grains<\/a> and protein. It\u2019s crucial for cancer patients to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/how-much-protein-do-i-need-a-dietitian-answers.h00-159781179.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">get enough protein<\/a> because protein helps build muscle mass. If you\u2019re a UT MD Anderson patient, ask for a referral to one of our dietitians, who can share tips to help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/6-easy-protein-sources-for-cancer-patients.h00-159699912.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">get more protein<\/a> during treatment.<\/li>\n<li><b>Exercise<\/b>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/prevention-screening\/manage-your-risk\/physical-activity.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Exercise<\/a> \u2013 particularly resistance-based activity \u2013 can help slow muscle wasting and preserve skeletal muscle mass during treatment. Try activities like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/easy-strength-training-you-can-do-at-home.h00-159780390.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">strength training<\/a> using resistance bands, water aerobics or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/tai-chi-healing-from-the-inside-out.h00-158598468.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">tai chi<\/a>. Aim for 30 minutes of light exercise per day, three times a week. If 30 minutes is too difficult, break it down into three 10-minute sessions. Any exercise done regularly can be beneficial. It also helps with other cancer treatment side effects like fatigue and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/diagnosis-treatment\/emotional-physical-effects\/peripheral-neuropathy.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">neuropathy<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><b>Supportive care<\/b>: Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/diagnosis-treatment\/care-centers-clinics\/supportive-care-center.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Supportive Care Center<\/a> can offer physical and emotional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/what-is-supportive-care.h00-159621012.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">support<\/a> to patients and caregivers. If you\u2019re a patient at UT MD Anderson, ask your care team for a referral.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What is the prognosis of someone with cachexia?<\/p>\n<p>Early intervention is key when it comes to cachexia. If your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/treatment-options.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">cancer treatment<\/a> is working to control the cancer, we will work with you to start increasing your weight and muscle mass. Our goal is for you to at least maintain your weight and function.<\/p>\n<p>Once cachexia reaches the refractory stage, it usually signals that you are very sick. If you are not responding to treatment, we can provide psychosocial support and counseling to you and your caregiver.<\/p>\n<p>What research is being done to help treat cancer cachexia?<\/p>\n<p>New research shows promise for some patients with refractory cachexia. A <a href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT05546476\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Phase 2 clinical trial<\/a> studied the efficacy of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/monoclonal-antibodies-and-cancer-treatment--what-to-know.h00-159386679.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">monoclonal antibody<\/a> ponsegromab in patients with advanced cancer, cachexia and elevated levels of GDF15, a protein that helps regulate food intake, body weight and stress responses.<\/p>\n<p>Results showed that patients who received ponsegromab had improvements in their weight, appetite and physical activity. A <a href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06989437\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Phase 3 clinical trial<\/a> is currently underway to study the efficacy of ponsegromab in patients who have cachexia and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/metastatic-cancer--what-happens-when-cancer-spreads.h00-159460845.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">metastatic<\/a> pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n<p>The vagus nerve sends signals between the brain and gut, and it helps regulate appetite. At UT MD Anderson, gastrointestinal medical oncologist <a href=\"http:\/\/faculty.mdanderson.org\/profiles\/xiling_shen.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Xiling Shen, Ph.D.<\/a>, and colleagues conducted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/newsroom\/research-newsroom\/targeting-brain-liver-pathway-with-electronic-wearables-could-prevent-cancer-associated-weight-and-muscle-loss.h00-159778812.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">research<\/a> that suggests that targeting the vagus nerve with a non-invasive device could delay the onset of cachexia or prevent it altogether.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>What else should patients and caregivers know about cachexia?<\/p>\n<p>The timeframes associated with cachexia stages don\u2019t always tell the whole story. What happens a lot, unfortunately, is that people are diagnosed with cancer two years or so after unintentionally losing weight. We see this the most with colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer, where people have unintentional weight loss two years before they are diagnosed. Unintentional weight loss should always be a red flag that something may be going on in your body. So, see your doctor if you experience this. This may allow them to catch a potentially serious health condition sooner.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/patients-family\/supporting-a-loved-one\/caregiver-roles-challenges.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Caring for a cachectic loved one<\/a> can be distressing. It\u2019s natural to want to feed and provide nourishment to your loved one with cancer, and you may become <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdanderson.org\/cancerwise\/5-hard-truths-it-s-important-to-acknowledge-as-a-caregiver.h00-159617067.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">frustrated<\/a> when the patient doesn\u2019t want to \u2013 or simply cannot \u2013 eat.<\/p>\n<p>If your loved one has cachexia, I encourage you to reach out to their care team. They can help provide support to you both.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/faculty.mdanderson.org\/profiles\/rony_dev.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rony Dev, D.O.<\/a>, is an internal medicine and palliative care specialist at UT MD Anderson.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/my.mdanderson.org\/RequestAppointment\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online<\/b><\/a><b> or call 1-877-632-6789.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by unintentional weight loss and a significant loss of muscle. Cachexia can be&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":791349,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5130],"tags":[37967,206639,169135,4345,138222,18301,6015,3314,358,3187],"class_list":{"0":"post-791348","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-caregivers","9":"tag-diagnosis-treatment","10":"tag-health-vigilant","11":"tag-houston","12":"tag-in-treatment","13":"tag-patients","14":"tag-side-effects","15":"tag-survivors","16":"tag-texas","17":"tag-tx"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/791348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=791348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/791348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/791349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=791348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=791348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=791348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}