癌症惡病質是多因症候群，需要及早發現，因為恢復體重、肌肉量和體力是很困難的。儘早介入（包括營養管理）十分重要。¹

癌症惡病質的後果

• 損害生活質素^2-4 
•  減低治療的耐受程度和成效^5,6 
• 增加健康的相關成本^2,7,8

癌症惡病質的營養管理應 

1. 提供高蛋白質和能量密集的營養¹⁰
2. 提供源自魚油的EPA/DHA：有證據顯示每日2克EPA/DHA，可以支援人體的自身抗炎機制^.10
    

1.    Bruggeman AR 等人Bruggeman AR et al.Cancer cachexia: Beyond weight loss.J Oncol Pract.2016;12(11):1163-1171.
2.    Van Cutsem E, Arends J. The causes and consequences of cancerassociated malnutrition.Eur J Oncol Nurs.2005;9 Suppl 2:S51-S63.
3.    Climent M et al.Weight Loss and Quality of Life in Patients Surviving 2 Years after Gastric Cancer Resection.European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO) 2017.pii: S0748-7983(17)30337-2.
4.    Takayama et al.Quality of life and survival survey of cancer cachexia in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients—Japan nutrition and QOL survey in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer study.Support Care Cancer 2016;24(8):3473-3480
5.    Odelli C et al.Nutrition support improves patient outcomes, treatment tolerance and admission characteristics in oesophageal cancer.Clin Oncol.2005;17(8):639-645.
6.    Arrieta O et al.Nutritional status, body surface, and low lean body mass/body mass index are related to dose reduction and severe gastrointestinal toxicity induced by afatinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.Oncologist 2015;20(8):967-974.
7.    Caro MM et al.Nutritional intervention and quality of life in adult oncology patients.Clin Nutr.2007;26(3):289-301.
8.    Pronovost PJ et al.How can clinicians measure safety and quality in acute care? Lancet.2004;363(9414):1061-7.    
9.    Fearon K et al.Definition and classification of cancer cachexia: an international consensus.Lancet Oncol.2011;12(5):489-95.
10.    Arends J et al.ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients.Clin Nutr 2017; 36(1): 11-48.