Weight Loss is common among people with cancer and is often the first noticeable sign of the disease. As many as 40% of people with cancer report unexplained weight loss at the time of diagnosis, and up to 80% of people with advanced cancer experience weight loss and cachexia, or wasting, which is the combination of weight loss and muscle mass loss. Weight loss and muscle wasting also often come with fatigue, weakness, loss of energy, and an inability to perform everyday tasks. People experiencing cachexia often cannot manage treatments well and may experience more intense symptoms.

Why do weight and muscle loss happen?
One cause is the cancer itself. For example, in an effort to fight the cancer, the body produces substances called cytokines. These substances can lead to weight loss, muscle loss, and a decrease in appetite. Another common cause is the treatments for cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy often cause a decrease in appetite. They can also lead to side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and mouth sores, which can affect your ability to eat normally, further contributing to weight and muscle loss. Fatigue is also a factor, since the decreases in exercise and other physical activities that happen when you’re not feeling well can also contribute to muscle loss.

How are weight changes and muscle loss treated?
To help manage these symptoms, your oncologist may prescribe medicines such as megestrol acetate (Megace), anti-nausea medications, and steroid medications. These drugs can increase appetite for some people and may help to prevent weight and muscle loss, but they do not build up lost muscle tissue. A lot of research is underway to better help patients with these problems. There are two promising treatments that are currently in clinical trials. One trial involves ghrelin, a hormone that affects appetite and stimulates the release of growth hormone to build strength. Another study involves SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators), drugs that encourage the body to build new muscle tissue. An example is the drug Enobosarm (GTx-024), which is currently being tested in patients with non-small cell Lung Cancer.