A patient with cancer is admitted with a weight loss of 25 lbs. over the last month with progressive anorexia. The nurse suspects this patient is experiencing what physiological effect of cancer?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anorexia-cachexia syndrome is a common physiological effect of cancer, characterized by significant weight loss and loss of muscle mass due to decreased appetite and metabolic changes. Paraneoplastic syndrome refers to a group of rare disorders that can occur in cancer patients when their immune system reacts to abnormal proteins produced by the tumor. Infection and esophageal obstruction may contribute to weight loss in cancer patients, but they are not specific to the physiological effects of cancer itself.

A Patient with Cancer Is Admitted with a Weight Loss