Malnutrition

Malnutrition characterized by a variety of clinical symptoms:

• Weight loss
• Poor wound healing
• Electrolyte and fluid imbalance
• Depressed immune function
• Increased morbidity and mortality

Not all patients with cancer become malnourished.  But all are at nutritional risk.

80% of patients present with weight loss before being diagnosed with cancer.

Malnutrition may result from:

• Disease process
• Use of antineoplastic therapy
• Both

Deterioration in nutrition status predicts outcome prior to start of therapy -  As little as 6% weight loss decreases response to treatment.

Malnutrition has detrimental effect on quality of life.

See also: Cancer Cachexia