Muscle Weakness and Mesothelioma
Cancer-related muscle weakness usually has several causes, and severe muscle weakness is difficult to reverse. The condition is also common in mesothelioma. It can be the body's response to tumors, cancer treatments or metastasis. Nutrition and exercise are the best ways to combat muscle weakness.
Written by Karen Selby, RN | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Jeffrey Velotta | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: October 29, 2024
What Is Mesothelioma-Related Muscle Weakness?
Muscle weakness is a loss of strength caused by mesothelioma. A standard effort doesn’t produce a full contraction or movement with flexing. Muscle weakness can make it hard for mesothelioma patients to lift things or walk. Cancer-related muscle weakness is a common mesothelioma symptom.
Most people with mesothelioma have lost muscle mass. This is due to aging or conditions like diabetes. These conditions can mask muscle weakness as a sign of cancer. Muscle weakness can also worsen as cancer spreads throughout the body. A severe muscle weakness disorder called cachexia is common in stage 4 mesothelioma. The condition can lead to severe weight and muscle loss.
Muscle atrophy is a wasting or thinning of muscle mass. It can be caused by disuse of your muscles or neurogenic conditions. Symptoms include decreased muscle mass and one limb smaller than the other. Also, there may be numbness, weakness and tingling in your limbs.
The terms muscle atrophy, wasting, thinning and loss often refer to the same condition. After periods of muscle disuse, muscles will shrink. This is because of tissue and muscle mass loss that may be caused by mesothelioma or its treatments.
What Causes Muscle Weakness in Mesothelioma Patients?
The main causes of muscle weakness in mesothelioma patients are malnutrition, low oxygen, fatigue, inactivity and some treatment side effects. Cancer, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, can change metabolism. The changes in metabolism can prevent muscles from getting nutrients.
“At one point, I remember thinking I would be going back to work. I’m not so sure now. The worst thing is, I still don’t have any endurance,” she said. “You go through this, and it effects your muscles, your stamina, your outlook. It’s getting better, but it’s a slow process I wasn’t really prepared for.”
Malnutrition
A balanced diet is vital for mesothelioma patients in treatment or recovery. Protein is key to reducing muscle weakness. When the body does not get enough protein from food, it uses muscle protein. As they grow, mesothelioma and lung cancer tumors use calories and protein. This leaves fewer nutrients for muscles.
Lack of Oxygen
Breathing difficulties can cause a lack of oxygen in mesothelioma patients. Muscles use oxygen to break down glucose and produce energy. Without enough oxygen, asphyxiation can result from abnormal breathing. It can also cause a state of generalized hypoxia that can lead to unconsciousness or death. Mesothelioma can make breathing tough. This makes it harder for your body to supply muscles with enough oxygen. Chronic respiratory illnesses can lower oxygen levels. This reduces muscle mass over time.
Fatigue and Inactivity
Cancer-related fatigue affects everyone differently. A patient may feel energetic one day but not have enough energy to get out of bed the next. Mesothelioma tumors use up energy as they grow. This leaves fewer resources for the rest of the body. A 2020 study in Sage Journals found that 81% of mostly male epithelioid mesothelioma patients reported regular fatigue. The patients in the study had an average age of about 72 years.
Treatment Side Effects
Some mesothelioma treatments can cause muscle weakness. Radiation kills cancer and healthy cells. It forces the body to use energy to heal damaged tissues.
- Anemia, lower red blood cell counts make it harder for the blood to carry nutrients to muscles
- Bone metastasis, when the cancer spreads to the bones in advanced mesothelioma.
- Cachexia, severe muscle wasting caused by the underlying cancer
- Hormonal changes caused by tumors on glands
- Loss of appetite
- Medications
Chemotherapy lowers red blood cell count, causing anemia. This makes it harder to deliver nutrients to muscles. Chemo may cause other side effects, like mouth sores and nausea making eating hard. Infections may also play a factor in muscle weakness. Muscle loss can also lower survival rates.
How to Treat Mesothelioma-Related Muscle Weakness
Doctors may suggest palliative care to treat mesothelioma muscle weakness. For example, a thoracentesis can reduce pressure in the chest and improve breathing. Improvements of respiratory issues can reduce fatigue and limit muscle weakness, leading to a better quality of life.
Diet or appetite stimulants can improve malnutrition. Eating more protein can help stop muscle weakness. A nutrient-rich diet for mesothelioma can prevent fatigue from a lack of nutrition.
Tips for Managing Muscle Weakness
There are several ways to manage muscle weakness from mesothelioma. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can reduce muscle pain. Your doctor may also be able to prescribe medications such as muscle relaxants, steroid medicines, antibiotics or antidepressants.
- Avoid caffeine
- Counseling or stress management
- Diet
- Exercise
- Massage therapy
- Pain management
- Palliative treatments
- Smokers should quit
- Take plenty of breaks during tasks
Adjust your sleep schedule to ensure you’re fully rested. Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Also, avoid napping longer than 30 minutes. Exercise can be beneficial. But don’t exercise at least 2 hours before bedtime. You should always exercise during a time of day when you have the energy to be active.
Mesothelioma-Related Muscle Weakness and Quality of Life
Pain and weakness greatly reduce a person’s quality of life. The goal is to stay pain-free and rebuild lost muscle to boost health. This may also improve mesothelioma survival rates. If not addressed, muscle weakness can cause fatigue and poor balance. It may worsen other health problems.
Muscle weakness related to mesothelioma makes day-to-day life difficult. It may cause a person to avoid daily activities, which could impact mental health. This can also affect a person’s ability to recover from mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy, radiation or surgery.
Terry Latham, one of America’s longest-living pleural mesothelioma survivors, said he struggled from mesothelioma-related muscle weakness and muscle loss. “If not for this mesothelioma, I’d be as strong as a bull today,” Latham said. “But I’ve lost all my muscle, inches and pounds. It’s been devastating for me, but I keep going. You have to keep fighting.”
Mesothelioma Patients Who’ve Experienced Muscle Weakness
In 2021, doctors diagnosed Carla Fasolo with pleural mesothelioma. Carla had several rounds of chemo and immunotherapy that left her feeling weak and fatigued.
Her husband provided support, which brought her great physical and emotional relief. Carla says her relationship with her husband is now closer than ever. She leaned on him while she was weak and recovering.
Joey Barna’s mesothelioma journey started in 2018. After surgery to remove the pleura and decorticate the lung, he can get winded easily. Now, Joey is following a strict routine of light exercise and a healthier diet. His goal is to gain weight and put on muscle mass.
Coping with mesothelioma-related muscle weakness is possible through support, treatments and life style improvements. Remember to talk with you doctor about possible palliative treatments that can safely and effectively help you manage muscle weakness from mesothelioma or its therapies.
This Page Contains 7 Cited Articles
The sources on all content featured in The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com include medical and scientific studies, peer-reviewed studies and other research documents from reputable organizations.
- Hemingway, R.D. (2019, May 23). Mesothelioma and Physical Therapy. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-96244-3_10
- Debevec, T. et al. (2018). Hypoxia Aggravates Inactivity-Related Muscle Wasting. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5962751/
- Milgrom, D. et al. (2017, April). Bone Pain and Muscle Weakness in Cancer Patients. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28497213
- Aversa, Z., Costelli, P. & Muscaritoli, M. (2017, March). Cancer-induced muscle wasting: latest findings in prevention and treatment. Retrieved from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1758834017698643
- Waning, D. & Guise, T. (2015, May). Cancer-associated muscle weakness: What's bone got to do with it? Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4432780/
- Chiang, C.C., Hsieh, M.S. & Chang, D.-Y. (2014, September). Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma with Extensive Skeletal Muscle Metastasis. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2311300616300362
- Christensen, J. et al. (2014, May). Muscle dysfunction in cancer patients. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/annonc/article/25/5/947/156462