Kev writes:

In this case, I think he's correct. I'm recovering from a cancer that
required extensive surgery (removal of my esophagus) and I nearly died
after burning through the little fat I had in reserve. After the fat
gets used, your muscles go next. If I'd had more reserve fat, I'd
probably have had an easier time of recovery, and not had such a lack
of energy due to difficulty eating.

A large percentage of cancer patients ultimately die of starvation, as
the disease and its treatment often combines a lack of appetite with a
very high consumption of calories by the cancer. Without fat stores
the body's energy reserve can be exhausted very quickly. Patients
must be encouraged to eat or they must be fed, and some people claim
that eating a great deal has a beneficial effect in fighting the
cancer, although these claims are controversial.

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