癌症食慾不振和惡病質症候群之處理策略

Management of Cancer Anorexia-Cachexia Syndrome

周佩君(Pei-Chun Chou) ； 劉錦燕(Chin-Yen Liu) ； 林素珍(Su-zhen Lin)

《元培學報》 24期 (2019/12) Pp. 18-25

摘要

癌症食慾不振和惡病質症候群（CACS）是一種嚴重致命但困難定義的非自主性體重減輕的症候群，不但造成病人生理、心理、社會及靈性極大的負荷，對於照顧者也是極具壓力的挑戰。臨床醫護人員容易忽略營養的問題，也較缺乏與病人及家屬溝通此問題的機會。護理人員應熟悉CACS之照護，以及時提供病人及家屬適切的評估與處置，延緩營養流失的速度。本文介紹CACS的定義、機轉、診斷及處理方式，透過心理社會支持、教育與溝通的多元介入方式，協助癌症病人及家屬更能了解惡病質的相關資訊、接受疾病不可逆的自然進展、抒發及緩和焦慮，以期有效降低體重與進食相關的困擾，提升癌症照護品質。

關鍵字

癌症食慾不振和惡病質症候群 ； 症狀處理 ； 體重減輕

並列摘要

Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) is a lethal but poorly defined involuntary wasting disorder. Cachexia presents physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual burdens for the patient and is a stressful challenge for caregivers. Medical professionals may overlook nutritional problems, and neglect to discuss nutrition with patients and family members. Nurses play an important role in caring for those with cancer cachexia; they should be familiar with the symptoms of this highly-prevalent, highly-fatal syndrome to provide patients and families with timely evaluation and treatment. This paper introduces the definition, mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer cachexia and describes psychological and social support, education, and communication that may help patients and their families understand cachexia, accept that it is a natural progression, dispel anxiety, and reduce difficulties regarding the patient's weight and diet, thus improving the quality of care.

並列關鍵字

Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome ； symptom management ； weight loss