Grant Williams, MD, clinical instructor and research fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, discusses sarcopenia in patients with cancer.

While there are many definitions of sarcopenia, all of them refer to muscle loss, a condition that many elderly patients with cancer face. Sarcopenia can lead to increased mortality and chemotherapy-related adverse events. Luckily, in the world of oncology, there is typically an abundance of CT scans for each patient so clinicians can monitor their muscle mass.

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Grant Williams, MD, clinical instructor and research fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, discusses sarcopenia in patients with cancer. 

Grant Williams on Sarcopenia in Patients With Cancer

Grant Williams, MD, clinical instructor and research fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, discusses the impact that losing skeletal muscle mass has on elderly patients with cancer. 

For all patients with cancer, losses in muscle mass can lead to an increased risk for toxicity, overall complications, and even death. Be it from cancer treatment or other health factors, Williams said that it is important that researchers work on better defining these muscular issues so that interventions, such as nutrition, exercise, and treatment changes, can be implemented to give patients the best possible prognosis. 

​Grant Williams, MD, clinical instructor and research fellow at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, discusses the impact the losing skeletal muscle mass has on elderly patients with cancer.

Grant Williams, MD

Articles

Grant Williams on Sarcopenia in Patients With Cancer

Grant Williams on the Effects of Losing Muscle Mass During Cancer Treatment