Malnutrition is a major cause of illness and death in cancer patients.
Malnutrition occurs when too little food is eaten to continue the body's functions. Progressive wasting, weakness, exhaustion, lower resistance to infection, problems tolerating cancer therapy, and finally, death may result. Anorexia may occur early in the disease or later, when the tumor grows and spreads. Anorexia is the most common cause of malnutrition and deterioration in cancer patients. Cachexia is a wasting syndrome characterized by weakness and a noticeable continuous loss of weight, fat, and muscle.