Living with low muscle mass and its impact throughout curative treatment for lung cancer: A qualitative study.

Objectives: To 1) explore the experience of patients with lung cancer with low muscle mass or muscle loss during treatment and the ability to cope with treatment, complete self-care, and 2) their receptiveness and preferences for nutrition and exercise interventions to halt or treat low muscle mass/muscle loss.
Methods: This was a qualitative study using individual semi-structured interviews conducted using purposive sampling in adults with a diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), treated with curative intent chemo-radiotherapy or radiotherapy. Patients who presented with computed tomography-assessed low muscle mass at treatment commencement or experienced loss of muscle mass throughout treatment were included. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Eighteen adults (mean age 73 ± SD years, 61% male) with NSCLC (76%) treated with chemo-radiotherapy (76%) were included. Three themes were identified: 1) the effect of cancer and its treatment; 2) engaging in self-management; and 3) impact and influence of extrinsic factors. Although experiences varied, substantial impact on day-to-day functioning, eating, and ability to be physically active was reported. Patients were aware of the overall importance of nutrition and exercise and engaged in self-initiated or health professional supported self-management strategies. Early provision of nutrition and exercise advice, guidance from health professionals, and support from family and friends were valued, albeit with a need for consideration of individual circumstances.
Conclusion: Adults with NSCLC with or experiencing muscle loss described a diverse range of experiences regarding treatment. The types of support required were highly individual, highlighting the crucial role of personalised assessment of needs and subsequent intervention.
Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: N.K. has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition. C.M.P. has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestlé Health Science, Pfizer, and AMRA medical. R.M.D. has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition and Fresenius Kabi. A.U., S.F.F, D.L.B., L.E., L.D., and S.S. report no competing interests.
(Copyright: © 2024 Kiss et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)