Question

The family of a 68-year-old man who is in the end stages ofsmall cell lung cancer is distraught at his visible body wasting that has worsened in recent weeks. Which of the following phenomena best accounts for the patient's anorexia and cachexia?

- Inadequate cellular metabolism of glucose results from tumor factors
- High fat losses coupled with preservation of muscle mass exaggerate the appearance of wasting
- Products of the tumor itself as well as a hypermetabolic state cause cachexia
- Inadequate food intake due to symptoms and treatment results in loss of both muscle and fat

Answer 1

- Products of the tumor itself as well as a hypermetabolic state cause cachexia

Step-by-step explanation:

Lung cancer is a tumor characterized by the breakdown of the lung's natural cellular mechanisms from carcinogenic stimuli over the years, leading to disorganized growth of malignant cells. One of the most striking symptoms of lung cancer is rapid weight loss and appetite this causes the extreme weight loss in the patient that is caused by the tumor's own products and the hypermetabolic state causing cachexia.