Around 40 percent of Americans will undergo cancer treatment at some point in their lifetime.
And the toxic tumor-fighting chemicals in chemotherapy and invasive operations, which often involve removing entire organs, cause the death of around a quarter of patients, according to British research.
But one specialist says that there’s one thing you can do to give yourself the best chances of getting through it.
Dr Lauren Yancey, an eye surgeon based at the Georgia vision Institute who researches cancer-related vision loss, has explained the one activity that can bolster the body before treatment, drastically improving the chance of survival.
‘What’s your best fighting chance against cancer?’ she said in a video posted to her TikTok channel, which has had five million views. ‘It’s actually muscle mass.’
She adds that, in her experience, when people are diagnosed with cancer they like to focus on a factor they can be ‘proactive’ about that may help increase their prognosis.
‘Here’s your number one tip from me on how you can best survive cancer if you get it, which we all know, as humans, our chances of getting cancer in our lifetime is super high.
‘If you’re going to go through cancer treatment, the best possible thing you can have before you start that journey is good muscle mass.
‘We know that chemotherapy drugs deplete skeletal muscle. If you don’t start with a good muscle mass, you’re already starting with your tank on zero.
Around a quarter of cancer patients are killed by the treatment that is intended to help them. One of the most common reasons for this is due to depleted muscle mass, studies show.
‘Not only can weight lifting and weight training and building muscle mass help you in your day to day life, it could end up being the thing that saves your life if you ever have to have cancer treatment.
‘We need to be strong and healthy…and strong means healthy.’
A 2021 study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network concluded that muscle mass was not only correlated with survival from advanced cancer, but also symptom burden.
Experts say that having sufficient muscle is crucial for posture, balance, power and, of course, strength.
The more you have, the more likely you are to retain independence and engage in physical activity – which has a host of benefits for the body’s immune system.
As well as increasing protein intake, cancer specialists suggest patients should engage in weight-bearing exercises such as lifting dumbells or press ups as often as possible.
Dr. Debi Johnson is a medical expert and health journalist dedicated to promoting well-being. With a background in medicine, she offers evidence-based insights into health trends and wellness practices. Beyond her reporting, Dr. Debi enjoys hiking, yoga, and empowering others to lead healthier lives.
