- With Mayo Clinic medical oncologist
Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
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Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
"As a practicing medical oncologist, I meet with patients and families every day to help manage their course through this disease called cancer. This experience provides unique insight into the needs of cancer patients, their families and loved ones and brings into sharp focus the need for reliable information to be readily available in terms that can be easily understood." — Dr. Timothy Moynihan
Dr. Timothy Moynihan believes that providing consumers accurate, timely information on the broad, complex topic of cancer is the biggest challenge facing medical Web sites. As the guiding force behind our cancer coverage, he makes sure Mayo Clinic meets the test.
Dr. Moynihan, born in Las Vegas, N.M., but raised in Denver, is a consultant in medical oncology at Mayo Clinic and an associate professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice and palliative care medicine. He did his medical oncology training at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and then went on to the University of Minnesota and St. Paul Regions Medical Center in St. Paul, Minn., for seven years before moving to Mayo Clinic in 1999. Dr. Moynihan is director of the palliative care program at Mayo Clinic and associate medical director of the Mayo Clinic hospice.
Dr. Moynihan currently serves as the education chair for the Department of Medical Oncology and fellowship program director. Four times he has been selected as Teacher of the Year in medical oncology and elected to the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame. Past honors include distinguished clinical teacher at the University of Minnesota Medical School, best internist at the Medical College of Wisconsin and recipient of The Upjohn Achievement Award for Excellence in Medicine. He serves on several national committees for the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
"The Internet provides a ready source of information on a wide range of topics of interest to those affected by cancer," Dr. Moynihan says. "The difficulty is trying to decide which sites provide reputable information and which information is relevant to each individual patient. The long history and tradition of excellence associated with Mayo Clinic assures you that information provided will be reliable, up-to-date and comprehensive."
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- see all in Treatments and drugs
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Question
Cachexia in advanced cancer: What's the best treatment?
What's the best way to treat cachexia in someone who has cancer?
Answer
from Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
Cachexia is the loss of muscle mass and other lean tissues. Cachexia is common during the advanced stages of cancer, though it's unclear exactly how cancer causes muscle loss. Cachexia is also common in certain other chronic conditions, such as AIDS, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cachexia is often accompanied by loss of appetite. The muscle loss isn't caused by not eating, however — it's caused by the cancer. Even people who receive nutritional support through feeding tubes or intravenous feedings during the late stages of cancer can experience cachexia.
The best way to ease cachexia is to treat the cancer. If the cancer is no longer responding to treatments, little can be done to treat cachexia directly.
Sometimes appetite stimulants such as megestrol or corticosteroids can improve a person's appetite. But even then, eating more doesn't typically help a person feel better — nor does it lead to regained muscle mass. In addition, appetite stimulants may have bothersome side effects, such as swelling, agitation and increased risk of blood clots.
If you're caring for a person who has advanced cancer, simply provide support. Allow the person to eat as desired for comfort or pleasure. Don't pressure the person into eating more.
Next questionEGFR inhibitor cancer therapy: What are the side effects?
- Moynihan TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 1, 2008.
- Jatoi A, et al. Clinical features and pathogenesis of cancer cachexia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2008.
- Loprinzi CL, et al. Pharmacologic management of cancer anorexia/cachexia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2008.
