Cachexia, malnutrition and nutritional support In childhood cancer

The amount of weight loss with cancer varies with the type of cancer. More than 10 % of the patients usual weight loss within 6 months is defiend as critical. Some cancer patients need to be provided complete nutrition to overcome complications in their treatment. The goals of nutritional support in cancer are to increase functional capacity and quality of life , even in advanced cases. When lean body mass is lost,function and quality of life suffer. Nearly all cancer patients lose weight; the challenge is to keep them from losing their lean body mass as well.