Assessing the impact of early palliative care intervention in patients with lung cancer, cachexia and weight loss.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this review is to discuss the relationship between cachexia in lung cancer and the role of supportive and palliative care.

RECENT FINDINGS: A recent meta-analysis has shown that early supportive and palliative care improves outcome in patients with lung cancer. This includes benefits in survival, quality of life, mood and need for less aggressive end of life care. However, we examine how this is impacted by cachexia. Cachexia is a pro inflammatory syndrome causing loss of weight, muscle and function. The level of cachexia likely impacts early supportive and palliative care goals for individual patients.

SUMMARY: It is suggested that supportive and palliative care is a key component of managing patients with lung cancer and should be routine practice.