Not regaining muscle strength after recovering from cancer is a serious problem. New research has shown that the protein released from the tumor damages the blood cells that supply nutrition to the muscles.
Millions of patients suffering from cancer have to face a big problem even after recovery, which is muscle weakness. This weakness can be so severe that patients start having difficulty climbing stairs or even lifting everyday items. Now the reason for this problem has come to light in a new study which has been published in the famous journal Nature Cancer.
The effect of the tumor is not limited to where it is.
In this study, scientists found that despite being far away from the muscles of the cancer tumor, it can still damage the blood cells that supply blood to the muscles. When the cells are not healthy, nutrients and oxygen are not able to reach the muscles properly, due to which the strength of the muscles starts to diminish gradually.
A protein called Activin-A is responsible.
It was also found in the research that cancer tumor releases a special protein Activin-A. Which starts leaking the blood vessels in the muscles. This not only reduces blood flow but also the necessary nutrients are not able to reach the muscles, and weakness begins. When researchers reduced the effect of activin-A through Genie therapy, the health of blood cells improved and muscle weakness could also be prevented.
Why does weakness persist even after cancer is cured?
This condition, called cancer cachexia, is common in patients with stable cancer. In which the weight of muscles starts decreasing rapidly. Research shows that about 80 percent of advanced-stage cancer patients face this problem. The surprising thing is that even when the cancer is cured after treatment, the muscle strength does not return, because the blood vessels are already damaged.
Work is being done in the direction of treatment,
Although, till now, no specific medicine has been approved by the FDA for cancer cachexia. But research is going on on many new therapies and exercise programs. Some medicines are working to increase appetite, while some are targeting nutrition and muscle rebuilding. Researchers are now testing those medicines and exercise programs that are usually given to improve the blood cell health of heart patients. So that muscle strength can be restored in cancer patients.
This research makes it clear that the treatment of cancer is not just removing the tumor. Rather, it is equally important to strengthen the body again after that. Ignoring muscle weakness can have a big impact on the quality of life of the patient. In such a situation, it is important that cancer patients get the right care which also focuses on cardiovascular health.
