Muscle health plays a more crucial role in cancer treatment and recovery than many realise. Emerging research shows that preserving or even building muscle mass can significantly improve treatment outcomes and reduce the severity of the side effects.
By supporting physical function, metabolism, and immune response, muscle strength becomes a key factor in navigating cancer more effectively.
Studies show that individuals with greater muscle mass often experience improved prognosis and greater resilience during cancer therapies. Even if strength training or resistance exercise begins after a diagnosis, it can still offer substantial benefits. In fact, exercise is currently the most widely recommended intervention for cancer cachexia, a serious muscle wasting condition that affects up to 80% of cancer patients are linked to complications such as heart or respiratory failure, which are often associated with severe muscle loss.
Several factors can make it difficult to maintain muscle during treatment, including fatigue, pain, nausea, and reduced appetite. In many cases, the cancer itself contributes directly to muscle degradation. But structured, individualised exercise programs especially those focused on strength and resistance training can help slow or even partially reverse this loss. Exercise may also alleviate some side effects of treatment, improving overall quality of life.
Moreover, physical activity has been shown to reduce treatment toxicity by increasing circulation, stabilising blood sugar, releasing mood-boosting endorphins, and reducing systemic inflammation. While many conventional cancer treatments increase inflammation in the body, regular physical activity has anti-inflammatory effects that may support recovery and immune function. Meta analyses confirm that exercise can ease side effects such as neuropathy, cognitive impairment, fatigue, and cardiovascular strain, while also improving psychological wellbeing, sleep quality, and overall quality of life.
Even when therapies compromise the body’s ability to build or sustain muscle, engaging in regular movement can significantly enhance strength and functional capacity, while also offering powerful emotional and psychological support during challenging times.