Improving Cancer Patients' Quality of Life With Testosterone Supplements

Excessive loss of body muscle and fat, generally seen in advanced cancer, is called cachexia . The word derives from the Greek roots kakos (bad) and hexia (condition/state), meaning a bad condition or state. Its importance is underscored by the fact that around %20 of cancer deaths occur with cachexia.

- Related cancer: Why Do Cancer Patients Lose Weight? Cancer Cachexia (in Detail)

Cachexia occurs in approximately %50 of cancer patients. Its causes and mechanisms are not fully understood: why it affects half but not the other half remains unclear. It causes fatigue and weakness, reduces exercise capacity and performance, and may leave a person bedridden, resulting in impaired quality of life.

- Related topic: Quality of Life in Cancer Patients

Cancer cachexia, weakness, fatigue, poor exercise capacity and limited physical activity form a vicious cycle . Cachexia-related weakness restricts activity, and inactivity worsens its muscle loss and weakness. Breaking this cycle is crucial for improving quality of life.

- Related topic: How Can Cancer-Related Weight Loss and Cachexia Be Treated?

Treating Cancer Cachexia With Testosterone Supplements

Testosterone supplementation is known to increase muscle mass in healthy people. Many recent studies have therefore examined whether it could help cancer cachexia.

It should be noted that testosterone treatment for cachexia has been evaluated in both male and female patients.

Testosterone's effects in cancer cachexia on;

• Muscle loss and
• Patients' quality of life were assessed in a randomized controlled trial published on 14 April 2018 in Journal of Cachexiaas the journal.

In this University of Texas study conducted over 5 years, most testosterone-treated patients were women.

The results showed that 7 weeks of testosterone in advanced cancer;

• Increased lean body mass, with meaningful effects on daily living.
• Significantly improved quality of life and physical performance in the testosterone group.
• Did not affect survival but produced no unwanted effects or safety concerns.

How we live matters as much as — perhaps more than — how long we live and should always be remembered. Although we aim to increase both survival and quality of life, this is not always possible. We believe evaluating treatments enabling patients at least to meet basic needs is crucial to achieving “quality of life”. 

Related Topic:

- What Is Male Menopause? Symptoms and Treatment After Cancer Therapy