Pancreatic cancer

Loss of appetite

Pancreatic cancer

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Loss of appetite is when you don’t feel hungry, or don’t feel like eating. This can be caused by cancer, cancer treatments or other health problems. The medical term for loss of appetite is anorexia.

It is important to eat and drink enough when you have cancer. If you are having trouble eating, talk to your doctor, nurse or dietitian.

Be prepared

Know what to expect

There are several reasons why cancer and cancer treatments can cause a loss of appetite. These include:

  • nausea
  • pain
  • depression or anxiety
  • mouth problems
  • changes to smell and taste
  • some medications
  • constipation
  • fatigue.

Ask your doctor if you are likely to lose your appetite, and how this can be managed.

Start a symptom diary

Keeping track of your symptoms can help you and your cancer care team to manage them better.

Talk to your doctor or nurse to see if there is a diary they recommend, or use the example in the resources provided on this page.

Know who to contact if you have a problem

Ask your doctor or nurse:

  • when you should call for help or advice
  • who you should contact
  • how to contact them (including at night or weekends).

Keep this information where you can easily find it.

checklist Checklists

Use our checklists to find helpful tips or questions to ask.
Questions to ask about loss of appetite
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bookOther resources we recommend

Use the following links to find out more about this topic.
Coping with common dietary issues and pancreatic cancer
Cancer Council NSW
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Coping with common dietary issues and pancreatic cancer https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/pancreatic-cancer/managing-dietary-problems/coping-with-common-dietary-issues/
Cancer Council NSW
Nutritional supplements and pancreatic cancer
Cancer Council NSW
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Nutritional supplements and pancreatic cancer https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/pancreatic-cancer/managing-dietary-problems/nutritional-supplements/
Cancer Council NSW
Managing loss of appetite
Canadian Cancer Society, Canada
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Managing loss of appetite https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/side-effects/loss-of-appetite
Canadian Cancer Society, Canada
Symptom diary
Ingham Institute, Australia
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Symptom diary https://copingtogether.med.unsw.edu.au/interactive-tools/symptom-diary
Ingham Institute, Australia
Disclaimer Disclaimer

Managing symptoms

Managing loss of appetite

If you start to lose your appetite, talk to your doctor or nurse about this.

The best way to control loss of appetite is to treat the causes, e.g. nausea or pain.  If you know what is causing your loss of appetite, or making it worse, ask what can be done to treat this.

You may need to change your diet to stop you losing weight. You can ask to see a dietitian for advice.

Severe loss of appetite

Losing your appetite can sometimes lead to serious problems including:

  • malnourishment
  • weight loss
  • muscle wasting
  • loss of strength
  • tiredness
  • increased risk of infection and slow healing.

If you are worried about your appetite, don’t feel like eating, or are losing weight, contact your cancer care team for advice.

Treatment changes

Occasionally, if you have severe symptoms, your doctor may discuss delaying or changing your treatment. See our Treatment changes page for more information.

checklist Checklists

Use our checklists to find helpful tips or questions to ask.
Tips for managing loss of appetite
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bookOther resources we recommend

Use the following links to find out more about this topic.
Appetite loss and nausea (podcast)
Cancer Council NSW, Australia
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Appetite loss and nausea (podcast) https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/podcasts/episode-7-appetite-loss-and-nausea/
Cancer Council NSW, Australia
Loss of appetite
Cancer Council NSW, Australia
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Loss of appetite https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/living-well/nutrition-and-cancer/treatment-side-effects-and-nutrition/loss-of-appetite/
Cancer Council NSW, Australia
Eating hints – Before, during and after cancer treatment
National Cancer Institute USA, USA
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Eating hints – Before, during and after cancer treatment https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/eatinghints.pdf
National Cancer Institute USA, USA
Getting on top of symptoms (video)
Ingham Institute, Australia
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Getting on top of symptoms (video) https://copingtogether.med.unsw.edu.au/booklets-and-videos/getting-top-symptoms
Ingham Institute, Australia
Disclaimer Disclaimer

Where to get help

There are people you can talk to for more information or support.

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