Katie Arensmeyer, RN, MSN The University of Pennsylvania School
of Nursing Last Modified: January 17, 2012 Anorexia is the loss
of appetite or inability to eat. Many cancer patients experience
this prior to diagnosis and during treatment of the disease.
Approximately 50% of patients with a new diagnosis of cancer
have reported experiencing anorexia and unwanted weight loss
(Adams et al., 2008). Weight loss is often the initial cause for
the visit to the physician or clinic that then ultimately leads
to the diagnosis of anorexia. The loss of appetite in patients
with cancer-related anorexia may be due to one or more of many
causes. Cachexia is considered to be the involuntary weight loss
of more than 10% of the original weight due to a metabolic
disorder (Dahlin, Lynch, Szmuilowicz, & Jackson, 2006).
Anorexia/cachexia syndrome is associated with weight loss and
malnourishment, as often seen in late stage disease, and usually
associated with poor prognosis and early death (Garcia &
Polvino, 2007). Increased pro