Contents
What is cachexia?
Cachexia – This is a condition of the patient’s body in which there is a strong weight loss (sometimes extreme exhaustion). In cancer patients, against the background of cachexia, there are often problems in the functioning of the vital systems of the body, which lead to various complications. In some cases, this condition can cause the death of the patient, since in the advanced stage it is almost impossible to save the patient from cachexia.
In most patients, cachexia is detected in the case when he lost more than 5% of the total mass within six months. When this condition enters the refractory stage (with oncology), doctors no longer see the point in treatment, since it will not bring the desired result. That is why it is important to carry out timely prevention of cachexia (immediately after the diagnosis of cancer) in order to prevent the occurrence of this condition.
Cachexia can be:
Primary (occurs as a result of a lack of food in sufficient volume by the patient’s body). This stage of cachexia can develop when the patient does not have the financial ability to provide himself with a balanced diet, including the required amount of proteins, fats, vitamins and other nutrients.
Secondary (occurs against the background of other diseases and can be regarded as a concomitant symptom). This stage of cachexia in most cases develops against the background of the progression of chronic or acute diseases.
Causes of cachexia
Modern medicine knows the main causes of cachexia in patients who have been diagnosed with cancer:
violation of the hormonal background;
disorders of glucose metabolism;
loss of appetite (nausea, vomiting);
dulling of taste and olfactory receptors;
metabolic disease;
dehydration of the body;
disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
intoxication of the body caused by a cancerous tumor;
spending a large amount of energy by the body;
shutdown of all processes of self-regulation of the body;
persistent malnutrition;
prolonged fasting;
diseases of the esophagus that make it difficult for food to pass into the stomach;
surgical conditions (after resection of the stomach and other surgical interventions);
intoxication of the body caused by various infectious diseases;
purulent abscesses, etc.
Symptoms of cachexia
With cachexia, which develops against the background of oncological diseases, patients often experience the following symptoms:
Severe weight loss (anorexic thinness, loss of more than 50% of total body weight);
Drowsiness;
Change in the condition and color of the skin (the skin becomes flabby and acquires an earthy gray tint);
Wrinkles appear;
There is a sharp thinning of the subcutaneous tissue;
There are signs of trophic changes in the structure of nails and hair;
There is a loss of ability to work;
There are protein-free edema (in the subcutaneous tissue);
lethargy;
The amount of blood circulating in the body decreases;
There is muscular and nervous exhaustion;
Febrile states are observed;
There is an accumulation of transudate (can be observed in any part of the body);
Anemia begins;
Arterial pressure decreases;
Diarrhea or constipation often occurs;
Stomatitis develops (may be accompanied by tooth loss);
Decreased libido;
Amenorrhea develops (in women);
There is a persistent gag reflex;
There is fluid retention in the body or severe dehydration, etc.
Graded cachexias
Currently, when determining the type of cachexia, experts from around the world use a single international classification:
Kwashiorkor (a very severe form of nutritional dystrophy). In this type of cachexia, the visceral protein pool is depleted in patients. This form is quite rare in Russia and is diagnosed in patients who have experienced protein hunger for a long time. The main symptoms of this type of cachexia are protein edema, hypoproteinemia, and liver dysfunction.
Marasmus. At this stage of cachexia, the somatic protein pool is severely depleted in patients. In this category of patients, signs of atrophy of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, as well as all skeletal muscles, are pronounced. Chronic diseases often begin to progress. Despite such external manifestations of cachexia, patients retain the functions of all internal organs and systems.
Marasmus-kwashiorkor (mixed type of cachexia). With the development of this form of cachexia, patients may show all the signs of visceral and somatic protein deficiency. Also, patients may experience a lack of energy, which is consumed in large quantities by cancer cells.
Cachexia treatment
Currently, the treatment of cancer patients should be carried out in specialized medical institutions that have the appropriate equipment for emergency care. The attending physician must make every effort to rid the patient of a neoplasm that threatens his life.
With the development of cachexia, specialists prescribe drug therapy that can stop this condition:
cocarboxylase – relieves pain. In parallel, this drug supports the work of all vital organs and systems. With regular intake, this drug is able to stimulate the patient’s body to normalize weight and metabolic processes;
megais is a potent drug prescribed by an oncologist individually for each patient (the severity of the oncological disease and its stage are taken into account);
retabolil;
hematogen;
hemoferon, etc.
Taking fish oil may prevent weight loss in patients diagnosed with bronchial carcinoma. At this time, patients better tolerate chemotherapy courses, and a greater effect is observed from it.
Over the years, leading oncologists have been conducting various tests and experiments with medicines. In their opinion, it is the pharmacological blockade that can stop the development of cachexia in patients diagnosed with cancer. First of all, patients undergo a series of measures aimed at restoring their nutrition.
When a patient has an extremely severe stage of cachexia, doctors prescribe them parenterally:
electrolyte solution;
glucose solution;
amino acid mixtures;
vitamins;
hydrolysates (protein), etc.
If a patient has hormonal imbalances, then the attending physician prescribes hormone therapy for him, in which anabolic drugs are used. With severe malnutrition in patients diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, colon, etc., any therapy does not bring the desired result. The main goal of doctors is to block the pain syndrome of patients and alleviate their general condition.
Today, scientists from around the world are conducting research on the latest drugs that will be able to prevent muscle loss in patients diagnosed with cancer. Until their testing is completed, oncologists use traditional medicines in the treatment of cachexia.
Nutrition for cachexia
The development of cachexia in cancer patients often indicates a late stage of the development of a malignant neoplasm. During this period, patients should be provided with good care, including high-quality nutrition. The daily diet should be enriched with proteins and fats. Without fail, patients must be given special vitamin complexes, as well as trace elements that contribute to the full functioning of the body. In parallel, patients should perform various exercises that will help them increase muscle mass and endurance (strong physical exertion in case of cachexia is contraindicated).
When choosing a nutrition system, with cachexia, you need to give preference to easily digestible foods that do not put a heavy burden on the digestive system. In the event that a patient has problems with the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, doctors prescribe them polyenzymatic preparations (Festal, Panzinorm, etc.) and herbal preparations that can awaken appetite. Specialists categorically warn patients against oncological diets, which can aggravate the patient’s condition.