Unintentional weight loss without dieting or exercise can be a pleasant surprise. However, unexplained weight loss could be the first warning sign of a serious health issue, including thyroid disorders, diabetes, and cancer. This is especially true for those experiencing a loss of more than 5% of body weight over six to 12 months.
Melissa Ross / Getty Images
Weight loss occurs among people with cancer and can be the first sign of the disease.In fact, 40% of people say they had unexplained weight loss when first diagnosed with cancer.
It cannot diagnose cancer on its own but can alert healthcare providers to perform diagnostic tests to see if cancer is the cause.
This article reviews how weight loss can be attributed to cancer and what to do if you have unintentional weight loss.
Weight Loss and Cancer
Weight loss isn’t characteristic of any singletype of cancer.It can occur whether a person hascolon cancer,lung cancer,breast cancer,liver cancer, orlymphoma.
Studies most frequently attributed weight loss to cancer in the following types of cancers:
The causes of weight loss vary, although loss of appetite, fatigue, and nausea are common root causes. In some cases, gastrointestinal problems can contribute to weight loss, including diarrhea and infections of the mouth or esophagus. At other times, an emotional component, such as depression or anxiety, may prevent one from eating properly or getting the nutrition they need.
Causes of Unexplained Weight Loss
What to Do
It is generally a good idea to contact your healthcare provider if you have unintentionally lost 5% of your normal weight within six to 12 months.Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms to see if they indicate aspecific illness.
During your appointment, your healthcare provider may ask the following questions:
It is important to make your healthcare provider aware of any diseases or conditions you may have, as well as all medications, prescriptions, or otherwise, that you may be taking.
After the initial consultation, they will likely order a few routine blood tests, including the following.
These insights allow healthcare providers to narrow their search based on test results.
Summary
Weight loss is not a symptom of all types of cancer. Instead, it can be caused for a variety of reasons. Sometimes weight loss is directly related to cancer, but other factors such as emotional distress and side effects of treatment can contribute to weight loss. Recent research shows that it can occur at any stage.
If you have lost more than 5% of your body weight in the last six to 12 months, notify your healthcare provider. They will ask you various questions and order diagnostic blood tests to determine the root cause.
A Word From Verywell
Unexplained weight loss can be stressful. Keep in mind that it is not always an indication of cancer. It is simply a sign that your healthcare provider should run tests to ensure that cancer is not the cause.
If cancer is found, early identification is always better. Early detection leads to early treatment, which increases success rates. It also ensures that you are provided medications to treat the symptoms related to weight loss, whether it be an anti-diarrheal, appetite stimulant, antidepressant, ororal antibiotic.
Frequently Asked Questions
For many years weight loss was associated with advanced cancer only. But, in recent years, studies have shown that people with early-stage colorectal, pancreatic, and lung cancer presented with weight loss in the early stages.Forty percent of people say they had unexplained weight loss when first diagnosed with cancer.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bosch X, Monclús E, Escoda O, et al.Unintentional weight loss: clinical characteristics and outcomes in a prospective cohort of 2677 patients.PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0175125. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175125Nicholson BD, Hamilton W, O’Sullivan J, Aveyard P, Hobbs FR.Weight loss as a predictor of cancer in primary care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Gen Pract. 2018;68(670):e311-e322. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X695801Stark L, Tofthagen C, Visovsky C, Mcmillan SC.The symptom experience of patients with cancer.J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2012;14(1):61-70. doi:10.1097/NJH.0b013e318236de5cUCLA Health.Unexplained weight loss? What it could mean.Gaddey HL, Holder KK.Unintentional weight loss in older adults.Am Fam Physician. 2021;104(1):34-40.MedlinePlus.Complete blood count.Giannakeas V, Kotsopoulos J, Cheung MC, et al.Analysis of platelet count and new cancer diagnosis over a 10-year period.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2141633. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.41633MedlinePlus.Comprehensive metabolic panel.Tas F, Erturk K.Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is associated with metastatic disease and worse survival in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.Mol Clin Oncol. 2017;7(6):1142-1146. doi:10.3892/mco.2017.1440MedlinePlus.C-reactive Protein (CRP) test.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bosch X, Monclús E, Escoda O, et al.Unintentional weight loss: clinical characteristics and outcomes in a prospective cohort of 2677 patients.PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0175125. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175125Nicholson BD, Hamilton W, O’Sullivan J, Aveyard P, Hobbs FR.Weight loss as a predictor of cancer in primary care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Gen Pract. 2018;68(670):e311-e322. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X695801Stark L, Tofthagen C, Visovsky C, Mcmillan SC.The symptom experience of patients with cancer.J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2012;14(1):61-70. doi:10.1097/NJH.0b013e318236de5cUCLA Health.Unexplained weight loss? What it could mean.Gaddey HL, Holder KK.Unintentional weight loss in older adults.Am Fam Physician. 2021;104(1):34-40.MedlinePlus.Complete blood count.Giannakeas V, Kotsopoulos J, Cheung MC, et al.Analysis of platelet count and new cancer diagnosis over a 10-year period.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2141633. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.41633MedlinePlus.Comprehensive metabolic panel.Tas F, Erturk K.Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is associated with metastatic disease and worse survival in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.Mol Clin Oncol. 2017;7(6):1142-1146. doi:10.3892/mco.2017.1440MedlinePlus.C-reactive Protein (CRP) test.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bosch X, Monclús E, Escoda O, et al.Unintentional weight loss: clinical characteristics and outcomes in a prospective cohort of 2677 patients.PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0175125. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175125Nicholson BD, Hamilton W, O’Sullivan J, Aveyard P, Hobbs FR.Weight loss as a predictor of cancer in primary care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Gen Pract. 2018;68(670):e311-e322. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X695801Stark L, Tofthagen C, Visovsky C, Mcmillan SC.The symptom experience of patients with cancer.J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2012;14(1):61-70. doi:10.1097/NJH.0b013e318236de5cUCLA Health.Unexplained weight loss? What it could mean.Gaddey HL, Holder KK.Unintentional weight loss in older adults.Am Fam Physician. 2021;104(1):34-40.MedlinePlus.Complete blood count.Giannakeas V, Kotsopoulos J, Cheung MC, et al.Analysis of platelet count and new cancer diagnosis over a 10-year period.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2141633. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.41633MedlinePlus.Comprehensive metabolic panel.Tas F, Erturk K.Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is associated with metastatic disease and worse survival in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.Mol Clin Oncol. 2017;7(6):1142-1146. doi:10.3892/mco.2017.1440MedlinePlus.C-reactive Protein (CRP) test.
Bosch X, Monclús E, Escoda O, et al.Unintentional weight loss: clinical characteristics and outcomes in a prospective cohort of 2677 patients.PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0175125. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175125
Nicholson BD, Hamilton W, O’Sullivan J, Aveyard P, Hobbs FR.Weight loss as a predictor of cancer in primary care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Gen Pract. 2018;68(670):e311-e322. doi:10.3399/bjgp18X695801
Stark L, Tofthagen C, Visovsky C, Mcmillan SC.The symptom experience of patients with cancer.J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2012;14(1):61-70. doi:10.1097/NJH.0b013e318236de5c
UCLA Health.Unexplained weight loss? What it could mean.
Gaddey HL, Holder KK.Unintentional weight loss in older adults.Am Fam Physician. 2021;104(1):34-40.
MedlinePlus.Complete blood count.
Giannakeas V, Kotsopoulos J, Cheung MC, et al.Analysis of platelet count and new cancer diagnosis over a 10-year period.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2141633. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.41633
MedlinePlus.Comprehensive metabolic panel.
Tas F, Erturk K.Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is associated with metastatic disease and worse survival in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.Mol Clin Oncol. 2017;7(6):1142-1146. doi:10.3892/mco.2017.1440
MedlinePlus.C-reactive Protein (CRP) test.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
