A systematic review to establish health-related quality-of-life domains for intervention targets in cancer cachexia

Abstract

There are a vast number of HRQOL issues associated with cancer cachexia as identified from patients' own words. The model generated from these issues indicates that relationships, coping and knowledge of the condition are important components of new psychosocial interventions.

Food connections: A qualitative exploratory study of weight- and eating-related distress in families affected by advanced cancer

“…It is not possible to know how similar or different volunteers are from those who declined participation and therefore the transferability of the findings to other populations of patient-carer dyads affected by advanced cancer, involuntary weight loss and eating problems. Yet the problems described by the participants have been reported by qualitative studies conducted across the western world (Oberholzer et al, 2013;Wheelwright et al, 2014).…”

A systematic review and thematic synthesis of quality of life in the informal carers of cancer patients with cachexia

“…30 We have recently developed a model of the patient experience of cancer cachexia. 31 This highlighted the importance of ‘knowledge’ on mediating the negative impact of food- and eating-related difficulties. ‘Knowledge’ encompassed the need for helpful input from HCPs and also the desire for information about the condition.…”

A multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for cancer cachexia improves quality of life

“…There has been renewed interest and signs of progress in cachexia management over recent years, with trials of new pharmaceutical agents that can help preserve lean tissue13 16 and emerging data for beneficial effects with multimodal programme such as the CNR-JGH 27 29. Measuring QoL is challenging, and existing tools may still not capture the full extent of the impact of the cancer cachexia syndrome 47. However, while patients with cancer cachexia continue to suffer both shortened life expectancy and severely impaired QoL, pursuing approaches to treatment which can improve QoL should remain a priority.…”