cachexia

[ kuh-kek-see-uh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. general ill health with emaciation, usually occurring in association with cancer or a chronic infectious disease.

cachexia

/ kəˈkɛksɪə; kəˈkɛksɪ; kəˈkɛktɪk /

noun

1. a generally weakened condition of body or mind resulting from any debilitating chronic disease

cachexia

/ kə-kĕk′sē-ə /

1. Severe weight loss, anorexia, and general debility that occur as a result of chronic disease. Cachetic patients exhibit signs of malnutrition, including muscle wasting.

Derived Forms

• cachectic, adjective

Other Words From

• ca·chec·tic [k, uh, -, kek, -tik], ca·checti·cal ca·chexic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cachexia¹

1535–45; < Late Latin < Greek, equivalent to kak ( ós ) bad + héx ( is ) condition ( hek-, variant stem of échein to have + -sis -sis ) + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of cachexia¹

C16: from Late Latin from Greek kakhexia, from kakos bad + hexis condition, habit

Example Sentences

"This discovery could have implications for cancer patients who experience cachexia, or muscle wasting due to the disease and its treatments."

From Science Daily

Even if cachexia doesn’t directly kill a patient, it makes them sicker, weaker, and less able to tolerate chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

From Science Magazine

Several years earlier, other international forensics experts had already rejected the official cause of death as cachexia, or weakness and wasting of the body due to chronic illness — in his case, cancer.

From Seattle Times

He had been suffering from prostate cancer and his death certificate said he died of "cancerous cachexia" - a wasting away caused by the disease.

From BBC

It found inmates were "significantly malnourished" and dealing with a condition called cachexia, also known as wasting syndrome.

From BBC

Related Words

• affliction
• ailment
• disease
• malady
• sickness