Severe weight loss or Cachexia

Hi everyone –

My dad has been fighting this disease for about 20 months now. As I’ve posted before, his condition is moderately good and outside two scary infections (that where both controlled he has actually been OK).

The latest challenge however is his severe weight loss. He is about 5’8 and weighs around 125-130 lbs. He lost almost all of the weight during the last 2 months and while his CT scans where relatively positive and he remains without any major symtoms he thinks it’s cachexia.

What is very disconcerting is that most of the weight loss came once he started cisplating/irinotecan and he’s had very bad diarrhea. He’s still very mobile and outside the fatigue he has managed OK.

I have been reading about cachexia and it sounds very gloomy. Most trustworthy sites also point to consider that not all severe weight loss is cachexia.

Dad continues to eat although not great.

If anyone has any insight or thoughts it would be great to hear.

Thank you and best of luck to all.

Amilcar