A nurse is working with a cancer patient admitted to the hospital with complaints of loss of appetite and weight loss. An assessment of the client also reveals depletion of lean body mass and serum protein. The nurse accurately recognizes these as characteristics of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Depletion of lean body mass and serum protein are characteristic findings in cancer cachexia, which is a multifactorial syndrome that can occur in cancer patients and is characterized by weight loss, decreased muscle mass, and loss of appetite. Graft-versus-host disease, human immunodeficiency virus, and thrush are not typically associated with these symptoms. Neutropenia is a condition characterized by low levels of neutrophils, which are a type of white blood cell, and is not directly related to the symptoms described in the question.

A Nurse Is Working with a Cancer Patient Admitted to the Hospital