WASHINGTON, D.C., October 12, 2022 — The Cancer Support Community (CSC) released their Cancer Cachexia Voice of the Patient Report as a follow-up to their Externally Led Patient Focused Drug Development Meeting. The meeting provided an opportunity for people impacted by the unintentional weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, and intense psychosocial impact of cancer cachexia to come together and describe their experiences to healthcare providers, researchers, and other key stakeholders.

Debbie Weir, CSC’s CEO said, "CSC is so grateful to the many courageous patients and caregivers who came forward to tell their stories, share their experiences, and provide their insights about how we can collectively do better to understand, manage, and treat cancer cachexia.”

The Cancer Cachexia Voice of the Patient Report details experiences of living with cancer cachexia and perspectives on current and future treatment options for cancer cachexia. Highlighted throughout the report is the importance — to patients and caregivers alike — of cancer cachexia to become a focus of study that will lead to treatment options that improve quality of life, decrease muscle loss and fatigue, and boost appetite.

The report will contribute to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, medical product developers, healthcare providers, researchers, and other key stakeholders’ understanding of the severity of this condition and the critical need for novel treatment options.

“In shedding light on the intense physical and psychosocial impact of this condition, we can start to recognize ways to lessen its impact on future cancer patients and their loved ones,” said Weir.

CSC is thankful for financial support from Pfizer, Roche Diagnostics, and AVEO Oncology to complete this project. CSC would also like to thank the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, LUNGevity Foundation, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), and AnCan for their in-kind support and outreach to help engage patients and caregivers.

Read the report and watch the recording of the meeting.

About the Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club network partners, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization’s Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care includes an international network that offers the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C., and across the nation.