Participate in the oral case review. Organ change consistent with focal neoplasis. Metabolic alterations associated with cancer occur before any overt clinical signs associated with cachexia are identified. Decreased Nutrient Intake is a function of anorexic state and mechanical factors associated with the disease process including smell deficits, mastication and swallowing difficulty, and altered stomach capacity. Decreased Nutrient Assimilation is a function of the amount and type of food consumed, digestive and absorptive capacity, and nutrient losses directly and indirectly related to the disease pathology.
Nutrient metabolism is altered in the cancer patient.
Treatment modalities can further exacerbate this metabolic alteration. Tumors often preferentially use amino acids for E via gluconeogenesis. This becomes a problem when protein degredation exceeds protein intake. Loss of body fat accounts for the majority of weight loss in cancer cachexic patients. Lipid parameters in lymphoma dogs vs healthy controls show alterations in VLDLs, HDLs, and total trigylcerides.