did you gain /lose weight during chemo?

Findingout
Findingout Member Posts: 132
Yesterday I met my doctor before chemo #1 and he talked about things to expect including how some people gain weight during chemo treatment. He said he knew of no metabolic changes directly caused by chemo, however the lowered blood count / energy level, causing a sedentary lifestlye, might be a reason for weight gain.

Do you have any ideas or thoughts - did you gain or lose during chemo? Any suggestions as to one or the other? I can see having cravings especially if I'm feeling down, wanting sweets to cheer me up, then not getting much exercise if I'm so tired.

So far my taste hasn't been affected; even had my beloved java this morning! Thanks,

Lin
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Comments

  • Giant Poodles
    Giant Poodles Member Posts: 79
    Gain
    I gained from 120 to about 135. I think it was the steroids and the water weight from taxotere. But it did come off about 4 months after I finished chemo. It is important not to try to lose weight during chemo. I ate whatever I felt like just because your tastes change during chemo and you deserve treats. The steroids made me eat constantaly. But it does go away after chemo. Being on the tamoxifen, I do not eat that much, I usually make to make myself eat. Just take care of yourself right now and do what you have to do to get through it.
    Love,
    Rhonda
  • lafera12
    lafera12 Member Posts: 63

    Gain
    I gained from 120 to about 135. I think it was the steroids and the water weight from taxotere. But it did come off about 4 months after I finished chemo. It is important not to try to lose weight during chemo. I ate whatever I felt like just because your tastes change during chemo and you deserve treats. The steroids made me eat constantaly. But it does go away after chemo. Being on the tamoxifen, I do not eat that much, I usually make to make myself eat. Just take care of yourself right now and do what you have to do to get through it.
    Love,
    Rhonda

    lost
    I lost weight, but I really wasn't eating the way I used too.
    You do lose your taste buds, but in a way it helped because I was
    overweight and now my medical doctors wants me to watch what I eat
    because of high colestrol and high blood pressure,which are both
    normal now...
    But you have to take care of yourself and do whats right for you.

    Angie
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    Lost
    I lost 45 lb on the 2 batches (4 A/C and 12 Taxol) of Chemo and Rads. I lost all sense of taste and appetite. I'd have lost more IF Hubby hadn't called me several times a day to remind me to eat. (Hubby and I were married during my Mom's last days - she was anorexic - so me not eating scared the "humph" out of him.)

    I've been told that - Steroid can make you eat more.

    Susan
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    I gained about 5 lbs on the

    I gained about 5 lbs on the AC portion of the chemo. I couldn't exercise regularly because for the week after chemo I felt so bad. I didn't think I ate that much that I would gain. The TH (taxol/herceptin) I gained about 20lbs even though I exercised daily and ate very well (plenty of fruit, veg and protein and no junk). However I did very quickly loose the weight, I was back to my prechemo weight within 5 months.

    I think it might be a combination of things - the steroids, water weight and for many women their ovaries shut down which apparently results in metabolic changes and oftentimes weight gain.

    I watched my weight go up and up and I just focused on feeling good about myself. I did go out and buy some more clothes (not much), one size bigger as I gained so I could at least feel comfortable and not be reminded by what I don't fit into.

    My taste buds were only affected when I started the Taxol and only for a couple of days after chemo.

    good luck with your chemo and don't worry about weight gain, you can always loose if afterwards.
  • bunya
    bunya Member Posts: 11
    Yes..I gained.
    I gained about 15 pounds and I was told by the onc nurses that it was very common most likely from the prednisone (steroids) which made my appetite insatiable! I'm sure the fact that I was less active and craved the quick fix of sweets didn't help. After I completed my treatments I went on the Nutrisystem diet and lost 27 pounds and felt fantastic..got my energy back too. Best of luck with your future treatments. Love, Karen
  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    LOST weight during chemo
    Hi Lin,

    I had 4 rounds of A/C and 12 rounds of Taxotere. I lost about 45 lbs during the Taxotere rounds. There is something to be said for being overweight to start with. The problem was that I had absolutely no desire to eat along with dramatic changes in my taste buds. I couldn't stand creamy things and most other things just tasted like paste once they were chewed. I really didn't have much desire to drink liquids either, but forced myself to do so. Besides that, I vomited several times a day and also had diarrhea. I called myself
    "The Incredible Shrinking Woman." Funny thing was that I could watch and enjoy programs on the Food Network and even think "Well that looks good." 3 weeks after my last chemo I had a dramatic turn around and began eating/drinking again. Everyone is very different when it comes to the food and tastebud issues.
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    I lost weight, about 25 lbs
    I lost weight, about 25 lbs with chemo and another 10 with surgery. I didn't worry about what I ate at all, just ate what tasted good at the moment. And since, like others, I had the extra weight, I didn't worry about it coming off.

    Of course, I may put it all back on with rads. I started this week, and the last two days I have been eating almost non-stop! And I've been wanting crunchy, salty foods. I have not been making good choices....now I'm going to get some carrots and celery.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    I gained 20 pounds. I was
    I gained 20 pounds. I was nauseous the whole time and the nurse told me to eat. I felt better with something in my stomach so I ate all the time.
  • pinkflutterby
    pinkflutterby Member Posts: 615 Member
    Marcia527 said:

    I gained 20 pounds. I was
    I gained 20 pounds. I was nauseous the whole time and the nurse told me to eat. I felt better with something in my stomach so I ate all the time.

    GAINED
    when I was on tomixifen (sp??) I lost but when they switched me I gained like CRAZY and still havent lost any of it!!!! Drives me nuts!!!
  • waffle8
    waffle8 Member Posts: 234
    weight
    Remember everyone reacts differently! I started losing weight right after my initial diagnosis from the stress of it all...Then after chemo started nausea set in and nothing tasted good except pizza[weird huh]....I still can't stand the smell of certain foods..But I lost about 20 pounds...So fast forward a full yearon tamoxifen and now all I want to do is eat...So working to keep it off since my onco doc gets on my case for just a 2 pound gain..Now I try to be more mindful of what I eat ....Wishing you all the best....
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    waffle8 said:

    weight
    Remember everyone reacts differently! I started losing weight right after my initial diagnosis from the stress of it all...Then after chemo started nausea set in and nothing tasted good except pizza[weird huh]....I still can't stand the smell of certain foods..But I lost about 20 pounds...So fast forward a full yearon tamoxifen and now all I want to do is eat...So working to keep it off since my onco doc gets on my case for just a 2 pound gain..Now I try to be more mindful of what I eat ....Wishing you all the best....

    Lost
    About 15 lbs. on chemo. I lost about 10 lbs. prior, so a total of 25 and it's still off, and I need to lose 20 more. I was pretty conscious of eating enough until the last 2 cycles when I developed that horrible metal taste and breakthrough nausea. Nonetheless, I did my best to eat healthy and enough calories. The only thing that consistently tasted good to me was ice cream, milkshakes and smoothies.
    Suzanne
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    waffle8 said:

    weight
    Remember everyone reacts differently! I started losing weight right after my initial diagnosis from the stress of it all...Then after chemo started nausea set in and nothing tasted good except pizza[weird huh]....I still can't stand the smell of certain foods..But I lost about 20 pounds...So fast forward a full yearon tamoxifen and now all I want to do is eat...So working to keep it off since my onco doc gets on my case for just a 2 pound gain..Now I try to be more mindful of what I eat ....Wishing you all the best....

    I lost 80 have gained about
    I lost 80 have gained about 10 of it back. Just lost 1.5 want to lose at least 7 pounds. Its been hard lately and I have been stressed. sometimes i take comfort in food. particularly since i am not sick anymore. but I am trying hard., Still dont have much energy
  • linpsu
    linpsu Member Posts: 747
    Lost 30 pounds
    I lost about 30 pounds, due to extreme diarrhea for the 4 months I had chemo, plus I had no appetite at all and everything tasted really bad. I had dose-dense chemo - 4 A/C then 4 Taxol.
  • Hippiechick58
    Hippiechick58 Member Posts: 320
    linpsu said:

    Lost 30 pounds
    I lost about 30 pounds, due to extreme diarrhea for the 4 months I had chemo, plus I had no appetite at all and everything tasted really bad. I had dose-dense chemo - 4 A/C then 4 Taxol.

    My weight always fluctuates.
    My weight always fluctuates. One day it's up, the next it's down. I was excited when I lost 8 lbs, but the next day at the clinic I gained it all back(from the Decadron) Now I don't care one way or the other. I'll weigh what I'll weigh no matter what I do. Once This cancer thing is all over, then I'll put together a weight loss/exercise plan.

    Keep in mind that everyone is different. Focus of being the healthiest you can be!

    Be Well,
    Dianne
  • NJMom10
    NJMom10 Member Posts: 176

    My weight always fluctuates.
    My weight always fluctuates. One day it's up, the next it's down. I was excited when I lost 8 lbs, but the next day at the clinic I gained it all back(from the Decadron) Now I don't care one way or the other. I'll weigh what I'll weigh no matter what I do. Once This cancer thing is all over, then I'll put together a weight loss/exercise plan.

    Keep in mind that everyone is different. Focus of being the healthiest you can be!

    Be Well,
    Dianne

    Lost on AC, gained on Taxol
    I lost 20 lbs on the AC treatments. Didn't really want to eat during treatment week. Then on Taxol I gained 10 lbs. I didn't eat much on treatment week but the second week I was hungry all the time and ate like a mad woman! I think the steroids and being tired and unable to push myself to exercise did it. Prior to chemo I was exercising daily...doing cardio 45-50 mins per day and 3 days of strength training. My metabolism requires that much activity to keep weight off. But I was so tired during treaments that I could barely get myself into the shower to go to work so not much exercise. On the bright side, my last chemo was 3 1/2 wks ago and my energy level is almost back to normal so keep the faith!
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377

    Gain
    I gained from 120 to about 135. I think it was the steroids and the water weight from taxotere. But it did come off about 4 months after I finished chemo. It is important not to try to lose weight during chemo. I ate whatever I felt like just because your tastes change during chemo and you deserve treats. The steroids made me eat constantaly. But it does go away after chemo. Being on the tamoxifen, I do not eat that much, I usually make to make myself eat. Just take care of yourself right now and do what you have to do to get through it.
    Love,
    Rhonda

    ...
    Went from 108 to 143.
  • patti anne
    patti anne Member Posts: 101
    NJMom10 said:

    Lost on AC, gained on Taxol
    I lost 20 lbs on the AC treatments. Didn't really want to eat during treatment week. Then on Taxol I gained 10 lbs. I didn't eat much on treatment week but the second week I was hungry all the time and ate like a mad woman! I think the steroids and being tired and unable to push myself to exercise did it. Prior to chemo I was exercising daily...doing cardio 45-50 mins per day and 3 days of strength training. My metabolism requires that much activity to keep weight off. But I was so tired during treaments that I could barely get myself into the shower to go to work so not much exercise. On the bright side, my last chemo was 3 1/2 wks ago and my energy level is almost back to normal so keep the faith!

    Gained
    Definitely gained on chemo and now on tamoxifen and having a very hard time losing. I lost 3lbs this past month and my husband lost about 15. Makes me so mad. haha Oh well, I'll keep hitting the gym on my quest.
  • Findingout
    Findingout Member Posts: 132

    Gained
    Definitely gained on chemo and now on tamoxifen and having a very hard time losing. I lost 3lbs this past month and my husband lost about 15. Makes me so mad. haha Oh well, I'll keep hitting the gym on my quest.

    Your stories are so
    Your stories are so interesting! Amazing no two are alike. Seems more people lost but it's almost a tie. I have 4 AC then 12 weekly Taxol. Seems like an eternity...
    What I did get is -
    Don't diet during chemo;
    Just take what comes (don't stress over it, there is enough to stress about),
    and, ITS GONNA BE OVER ... at some point!!!!!!

    xo. L
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    gained
    I gained about 17 pounds with the rads, chemo, and tamoxifen. Found out my body wasn't absorbing thyroid meds. I am hypo again! Onco said not to worry about it, and they are trying to figure out how to get this body to absorb! I don't like it, but I can certainly live with it!
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    Lin
    I gained about 20 lbs. Too tired to exercise, swelling issues and ate a lot after steroids. I'm postmenopause and during menopause gained 80 lbs and have been struggling losing 35 lbs last year only to gain some of it back.
    Char