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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Loss Of Energy And Appetite In Cancer Patients?

Hello, my FIL was diagnosed in 2005 with kidney cancer. He has his left kidney removed and about 5 years ago he was diagnosed with Renal Cell Cancer with mets to the lungs, since then he has new growth, now with mets to the lungs, 1 in the liver and several on the skull. He did 3 weeks of radiation on 2 of the skull metastisises, but that is all he can do. He has a wound that is preventing him from trying medications. We ve noticed a great deal of energy loss, a decrease in appitite, weight loss. Now we are dealing with swelling of the legs. It started 2 weeks ago in his feet and calves, yesterday it was noticed in his thighs. He s been on Lasik for 2 weeks but it doesnt seem to be helping. Can you please provide any information as to what is happening, is this all coming to an end? What can expect next?
Mon, 17 Nov 2014
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on HCM.
In my opinion you is going towards last stage of illness and may succumb anytime in 6 months.
The main reason for loss of appetite and weakness is constant turn over of czncer cells in blood. These produce thousands of cytokines and chemokines and these affects appetite and well beingness.
So advanced stage patients tend to have poor appetite and great weight loss.
The reason for edema feet in your FIL case
1. Hypoproteinemia
2. Lymphatic obstruction due to radiotherapy.
3. Renal failure.
So in my opinion he is going towards terminal stage, better to give him palliative treatment.
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What Causes Loss Of Energy And Appetite In Cancer Patients?

Thanks for your question on HCM. In my opinion you is going towards last stage of illness and may succumb anytime in 6 months. The main reason for loss of appetite and weakness is constant turn over of czncer cells in blood. These produce thousands of cytokines and chemokines and these affects appetite and well beingness. So advanced stage patients tend to have poor appetite and great weight loss. The reason for edema feet in your FIL case 1. Hypoproteinemia 2. Lymphatic obstruction due to radiotherapy. 3. Renal failure. So in my opinion he is going towards terminal stage, better to give him palliative treatment.