WEIGHT TRAINING & CANCER TREATMENT

Superstar Sherree Leo, from Perth, WA is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Her clinical Oncologist Dr Seow, reccommended that Sherree undertake a tailored strength training program, throught her treatment.

Sherree has been training with us for just 8 weeks and the results are staggering. Scientific research has demonstrated that a personalised weight training program produces better treatment outcomes.

Research also indicates that structured weight training can reduce cancer related mortality by 31% to 46%

It also combats Cancer Cachexia (Muscle Wasting): Up to 80% of cancer patients experience cachexia, which contributes to 30% of cancer related deaths.

Weight training is the primary, and in some cases only, effective way to combat this, reversing muscle loss and increasing strength during and after treatment.

It also enhances treatment tolerance, due to improved physical function, reduced fatigue, and better maintenance of body weight.

It also boosts the Immune System by increasing the circulation of immune cells (like natural killer cells) that attack cancer, making immunotherapy more effective. Supervised weight training can also significantly alleviate symptoms such as fatigue (34-46% reduction in mortality risk), nausea, and peripheral neuropathy.

Evidence suggests that consistent weight training, can lower the risk of cancer recurrence in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer and another direct benefit is the body produces more white blood cells, which are part of the body's immune system, helping the body fight infection and other diseases.

Types of white blood cells are granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), monocytes, and lymphocytes (T cells and B cells). Monocytes are known to kill cancer cells and use newly formed muscle fibers to help them to recover, a cell recharger, rather like a battery charger.

Sherree traines just once a week around her chemo sessions and her latest blood test results show a stagering increase in her white blood cell count as well as her overall health during her chemotherapy treatment.

Her Oncologist stated that she did not require immune boosters as her white cell count demonstrated that her imune system was not compromised despite over 8 weeks of chemotherapy.

Her white cell count was in the normal range prior to training with us and since starting her training with us, (March 2026) her white blood cell count data, listed below shows just how quickley the body responds to training.

(White blood cell reference levels are typically between 4.0-11 x 10^9/L for the average female)

White cell count as of:

18/03/2026: 15.8

(2 months post cancer surgery and initial cancer treatment)

1/04/2026: 21

15/04/2026:45.1

(Week 8 Chemotherapy)

These results are staggering showing her white cell count is some 4 x the avarage cell count.

This data demonstrates that just a few sessions with weights can increase your immune system. Sherree is able to go about her daily life almost as normal, rarely feeling fatigued or tired and without worrying about picking up infections due to a lowered immune system.

Breast cancer and surgery has placed a huge impact on her life, however her clinitians, us and Sherree are positive about her outcomes.

The effect of weight training on the immune cell function in humans, was a systematic review by professors Lene Salimans, Keliane Liberman, Rose Njemini, Inge Kortekaas Krohn, Jan Gutermuth and Ivan Bautmans.

Pub Medical published the research paper in 2022 which demonstrated how weight training is beneficial for the immune system, including decreased susceptibility to infections and improved effectiveness of vaccinations. This review aims to provide a systematic analysis of the literature regarding the impact of resistance exercise on immune cells in the blood circulation.

Scientific research has proven the efectiveness of weight training for fighting cancer, including boosting our immune system.

For Sherree, this is a real world exapmle and just more proof as to why we should lift weights.