Everyone’s Talking About Creatine. But Should Cancer Survivors Take It?
Creatine seems to be everywhere right now. But what actually is it, what can it do for our strength and muscle, and the big question for this community: is it safe to take after cancer, and can it help with symptoms of menopause?
Today I have two brilliant experts to help us understand both the potential benefits and the safety of creatine after a cancer diagnosis.
First, you'll hear from Dr Eleonora Teplinsky, medical oncologist, who helps us unpack what we currently know — and importantly, what we still don't know — about creatine and cancer. The evidence specifically in people affected by cancer is still limited, so this is an important part of the conversation.
Then I'm joined by Sarah Newman, oncology exercise specialist and founder of Get Me Back, to take the conversation into the practical world of exercise, strength and recovery after cancer.
We talk about what creatine actually does, why maintaining muscle matters so much as we age and go through menopause, and why resistance training is such an important part of the picture.
We also get practical:
Do you have to lift heavy weights?
How often should we be strength training?
Can creatine help if you're not an athlete?
What type should you take?
Does it cause weight gain?
And where should someone start if cancer treatment has left them feeling weak, exhausted or simply disconnected from exercise?
Because this isn't really an episode about taking a scoop of powder.
It's a conversation about rebuilding strength after cancer, understanding our bodies, and finding out what might genuinely help us feel stronger again.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
04:37 Building healthy habits step-by-step
08:13 Building strength after cancer treatment
10:46 Discussing exercise and creatine use
14:59 Importance of diet and recovery
16:54 Concerns about effective muscle maintenance
22:58 Creating supportive exercise spaces
26:34 Rebuilding muscle after chemotherapy
27:57 Incorporating exercise for bone health
32:37 Benefits of strength training
34:30 Supporting diverse health needs
Disclaimer: This episode is for education and information and isn't a substitute for personalised medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare team before starting creatine or any new supplement, particularly during cancer treatment or if you have other medical conditions. Current cancer-specific evidence on creatine remains limited. (Oncology Nursing Society)
Here are the links mentioned in this episode:
Dr Teplinsky’s article on Creatine: https://drteplinsky.substack.com/p/creatine-supplementation-after-a
Find Sarah and her Get me Back Exercise Programs here: https://www.getmeback.uk/
Find Dr Teplinsky’s new book here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/beyond-the-pink/eleonora-teplinsky/9781538777145
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