What Causes Loss of appetite???
Loss of appetite or Anorexia is described as a loss of appetite or simply a lack of will and/or desire to eat. This sudden loss of appetite is found in cancer patients. People who experience appetite loss will face sudden weight loss due to decreased energy consumption. The body also becomes weaker due to consumption of inadequate calories. Due to this, the body won’t be as able tolerate cancer therapies. As body weight decreases, chronic disease known as cachexia sets in, and a general failure to thrive may make it more difficult to fight off illness and infection.
Anorexia is common in cancer patients with reported incidence between 15% and 40%. Primary anorexia is especially prevalent in patients with advanced tumor growth, and is frequently a side effect of cancer treatments. Early symptoms may remain undiagnosed sometimes, or are covered by a more generalized wasting of the body from chronic disease (cachexia).
It is normal for a patient to consume less energy when not as active. It is also natural to lose interest in food when individuals are seriously ill. However, it is essential in anorexic patients to consider whether the loss of appetite is the result of a natural disinterest in eating (primary anorexia), or is due to some reversible cause (secondary anorexia).
Secondary anorexia may be a result of fatigue, constipation, sores in the mouth (or mouth pain) unappetizing food (or change in food preference due to cancer related treatments), nausea with or without fear of vomiting after food consumption, candidiasis, , depression, heightened sensitivity to environmental odors as a result of cancer-related treatments, early satiation, metabolic causes such as hypercalcemia and uremia, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, drugs such as antibiotics or drugs that can cause nausea.
A poor response to cancer treatments, reduced quality of life, and death may result from substantial weight loss. The spiraling effect of a patient’s reluctance to eat is a source of frequent anxiety for caregivers. Weight loss due to anorexia may be temporary or may continue at a life-threatening pace if the patient continues to consume inadequate energy to sustain bodyweight.