Practical Considerations in the Management of Anorexia/Cachexia: What Do We Say and What Do We Do?

Abstract Cachexia and anorexia are both highly prevalent problems in advanced cancer patients. Anorexia generally refers to loss of appetite and a poor food intake, while cachexia refers to the weight loss suffered by these patients. Eighty to ninety percent of patients with advanced malignant disease have been reported to suffer from cachexia and anorexia. While the ideal clinical management would be to remove the underlying cause, this is clearly not possible with the majority of these patients.