Which cancer treatment is likely to cause changes in body composition?

Chemotherapy is known to cause significant changes in body composition due to its effects on both fat and muscle mass. Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cancer cells, but they also affect healthy cells, including those in muscle tissue. This can lead to a condition known as cachexia, which is characterized by weight loss, muscle wasting, and changes in body fat distribution.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy may experience various side effects such as nausea, appetite changes, and fatigue, which can further contribute to decreased physical activity and potential loss of lean muscle mass. These factors collectively result in an altered body composition, wherein muscle mass is decreased, and fat mass may either increase or decrease depending on nutritional status and physical activity levels.

Other treatment modalities, such as surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy can also influence body composition in some patients, but their effects are typically less pronounced in comparison to those seen with chemotherapy. For example, while surgery can lead to temporary changes in body composition due to recovery and potential nutritional deficiencies, it usually does not have the same widespread impact on muscle and fat tissue as chemotherapy. Similarly, radiation therapy might affect body composition but often more localized to the treatment area rather than systemically. Immunotherapy's effects on body composition are still being studied, but it generally