Definition
Anorexia is loss of appetite or desire to eat, accompanied by decreased food intake.
Onset/duration
The onset of anorexia may be within days or weeks of beginning cancer treatment.
Risk factors
Anorexia can be related to:
- treatment side effects (nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, xerostomia, pain, taste and smell changes)
- other medication (opioids, antimicrobials, antidepressants, antibiotics)
- psychosocial factors (fatigue, lethargy, anxiety, depression, inability for self-care - lack of support)
- tumour related factors (type of cancer, presence of metastatic disease, hypercalcaemia, factors secreted by the tumour, gut involvement, metabolic abnormalities)
- dysphagia
- stomatitis
- infection
- aging.