Patient and carer experiences of cancer cachexia and its management

Purpose of review: To explore the contributions of recent qualitative literature in progressing understanding of the experiences of cancer cachexia, and its management, from the perspectives of patients and unpaid/family carers.

Recent findings: Challenges with conducting everyday activities, maintaining independence, and continuing usual roles within the family are sources of distress. Patients and carers value individualization, flexibility, and carer involvement in physical activity/exercise interventions. In psychosocial/educational interventions that were positively perceived, the opportunity to talk about cachexia was appreciated, leading to improved health literacy, awareness about nutrition, and relationships with food. However, the general patient and carer experience around clinical acknowledgement and management of cachexia remains poor.

Summary: Eating-related distress and conflicts, lack of understanding about cachexia, and the visibility of weight loss remain recurring themes amongst literature on experiences of cancer cachexia. Studies exploring preferences for, and experiences of, interventions have primarily focused on physical activity or exercise. Psychosocial/educational and physical activity/exercise interventions are valued and perceived to alleviate some of the key quality of life issues amongst patients with cancer cachexia and their unpaid/family carers.