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Updated: Oct 8, 2025

The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia
Published on: November 30, 2016
Psychological symptoms of illness and emotional distress in advanced cancer cachexia
Koji Amano1,2, Jane Hopkinson3, Vickie Baracos4
1Department of Palliative Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo.
Purpose Of Review:
Cachexia induces both physical and psychological symptoms of illness in patients with advanced cancer and may generate emotional distress in patients and families. However, physical symptoms of cachexia received the most emphasis. The aims of this review are to elucidate a link between systemic inflammation underlying cachexia and psychological symptoms and emotional distress, and to advance care strategy for management of psychological symptoms and emotional distress in patients and families.
Recent Findings:
The main themes in the literature covered by this review are psychological symptoms in patients and emotional distress in patients and families. Studies of the underlying biology of cachexia identify the role of the central nervous system to amplify tumor-induced systemic inflammation. The brain mediates a cluster of symptoms, such as sleep disruption, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and reduction in motivated behavior (notably anorexia). These are distressing to patients as well as to families.
Summary:
There is growing recognition that holistic multimodal interventions are needed to alleviate psychological symptoms and emotional distress and to improve quality of life in patients with cancer cachexia and families. This is an approach that addresses not only physical health but also psychological, emotional, and social well being issues.
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