cachexia
- noun
- /kəˈkɛkʃə/
- Specialized
- The patient experienced severe cachexia due to his chronic illness, losing much of his muscle and strength.
Examples
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Doctors noted that cachexia often leads to significant weight loss in individuals suffering from cancer.
-
However, in August 1998, the patient died of neoplastic cachexia.
Academic text (2003) -
Cachexia was the cause of death for both patients in the polyethylene-stent group.
Academic text (1992) -
After months of battling her illness, she was diagnosed with cachexia, which explained her dramatic weight loss.
Synonyms
Extreme thinness from not enough food or illness
A severe loss of weight and strength in body and mind from a long illness
Loss of body weight and muscle that makes a person weak
A very thin, weak body caused by illness or lack of food
Antonyms
How Severe
Surface Forms
Etymology
Cachexia comes from Greek parts kak- meaning 'bad' and hexis meaning 'condition'. So, cachexia means a 'bad condition', which helps explain the severe wasting and weight loss seen in long illness.