McCreery, Elizabeth, Costello, John
International Journal of Palliative Nursing, Jan 2013, vol. 19, no. 1, p. 32-37.
Malnutrition is the single most common secondary diagnosis for patients with advanced cancer, and can affect up to 85% of patients. Anorexia and weight loss affect up to 80% of patients and are responsible for death in up to 20% of cases. Cancer cachexia is a feature of advanced cancer characterised by anorexia and a progressive loss of body weight, reduced immune response, poor treatment response, and poor quality of life. Providing effective nutritional support for patients who experience cancer cachexia at the end of life is very challenging and requires a multidisciplinary team approach to consider the implications beyond the patient's dietary needs being met. 33 references.
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