Weight Loss As A Prognosis Factor In Patients With Liver, Pancreas, And Galldbladder Tumors

Abstract

Introduction: Weight loss is a frequent problem with cancer patients, which affects the prognosis, lengthens hospital stays, increasing costs, and overall affecting quality of life. The reasons behind weight loss can vary from tumor-host effects in the digestive tube, and all the way to side effects due to cancer treatment. Method: 192 patients were evaluated with pancreas, and gallbladder cancer. Variables as sex, age, medical prognosis, height, normal weight, actual weight, and weight loss percentage they were analyzed. Result: The average habitual weight was of 72.06+15.6kg and the average actual weight at the time of the oncological diagnosis was of 62.07+13.16 kg. The frequency of tumors is as according: Pancreatic cancer with 41%(79), followed by hepatic cancer with 36%(69) and bile ducts cancer with 23%(44). A whopping 97% of all patients showed a weight loss in reference to normal weight. Out of that percentage, a 59.4%(114) showed a severe weight loss. Pancreatic cancer was the highest in weight loss, followed by hepatic cancer. Conclusion: Weight loss is a common problem found in cancer patients. This study classified more than half of the patients evaluated with a dramatic weight loss. The pancreatic cancer showed the highest percentage of weight loss.