Objectives: To provide a review of weight loss, cachexia (both primary and secondary), and weight gain in cancer patients.
Data sources: Research reports, review articles, textbooks, and personal communications.
Conclusions: Alterations in nutritional status have the potential to affect mortality, morbidity, and quality of life outcomes. The detection and treatment of malnutrition is important to success of therapy.
Implications for nursing practice: Nursing interventions to help maintain optimal nutritional status in patients with cancer include careful assessment, identification of patients at risk, and management of problems before the initiation of therapy.