weight gain

maybabe
maybabe Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
i went thru 4 treatments of chemo july-sept 2008. i gained some weight during chemo and had to stay the same weight during radiation.After is was all done i continued to gain weight.My oncologist insists it's because of menopause.I have always been a walker.I walk 2 miles every evening with weight gloves and ankle weights and cannot lose a pound.I have been very careful on what i eat and nothing works.I have even taken to hitting a heavy bag for more of a work out.Now i hear the steroids in the taxotere could be what made me gain weight and why i can't lose weight any suggestions what i can do my biggest fear is i was told being over weight can give you a higher occurance for reoccurance.

Comments

  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    #2
    I gained weight during
    I gained weight during menepause. It was weird, I lost weight from 1997-2000. When my period ended in May of 2000, I started putting it right back on! Then, last Fall I started with the GERD and I couldn't eat very much because everything gave me indegestion, then I got IBS. So, now I'm down by 45 lbs. Not happy about going through this cancer, and I hope Arimidex doesn't put weight back on me.
  • Fran1947
    Fran1947 Member Posts: 72
    #3
    Weight gain
    Hi Maybabe,

    I had lost over 80 pounds the year before my recurrence. My doctor congratulated me on reducing my risk - then I had the recurrence anyway. Of course, now I've gained back 60 pounds - and yes, the steroids accelerated the process. Menopause does change your metabolism & makes it harder to lose weight. I learned in Weight Watchers that sometimes not eating enough can prevent you from losing weight - especially if you are exercising a lot. It is very counter-intuitive to eat a little more, but it really can be a factor. Of course you have to make good choices....

    Also I would suggest lots and lots of water.

    Everybody is different, so this may not be helpful, but please know I'm wishing you well!

    Hugs,

    Fran
  • JGrim
    JGrim Member Posts: 36
    #4
    I haven't been able to lose
    I haven't been able to lose weight yet, but I'm on two different steroids (one for lupus and one with my IV treatments). The fact that so many women gain weight with their cancer treatments prompted me to write a piece for my website ("cancer can make you fat" at CancerVacation.com in the photos and journal sections) so that more women (especially those on steroids) would realize that it's not always something you do or don't do and depending on the timing there may not be much you can do about it.

    If you've been off the steroids for a year now, though, I'm not sure they'd still be affecting your weight and metabolism. Like I said, I'm barely maintaining now, but I do use sparkpeople.com to eat healthier... you put in the goals and nutrition restrictions and they plan a daily diet for you with a printable shopping list and easy item substitutions. And it's free. So now I'm eating healthier and when the steroids are gone from my system (I hope) I'll lose weight faster than I would with unhealthy eating habits.
  • maybabe
    maybabe Member Posts: 3
    #5
    JGrim said:

    I haven't been able to lose
    I haven't been able to lose weight yet, but I'm on two different steroids (one for lupus and one with my IV treatments). The fact that so many women gain weight with their cancer treatments prompted me to write a piece for my website ("cancer can make you fat" at CancerVacation.com in the photos and journal sections) so that more women (especially those on steroids) would realize that it's not always something you do or don't do and depending on the timing there may not be much you can do about it.

    If you've been off the steroids for a year now, though, I'm not sure they'd still be affecting your weight and metabolism. Like I said, I'm barely maintaining now, but I do use sparkpeople.com to eat healthier... you put in the goals and nutrition restrictions and they plan a daily diet for you with a printable shopping list and easy item substitutions. And it's free. So now I'm eating healthier and when the steroids are gone from my system (I hope) I'll lose weight faster than I would with unhealthy eating habits.

    Thanks JGrim i will try that
    Thanks JGrim i will try that website.I have been off steroids for a year now so hopefully i can begin to drop the weight.I have another 6 month mammogram in Nov so let's pray it's negative
  • maybabe
    maybabe Member Posts: 3
    #6
    Fran1947 said:

    Weight gain
    Hi Maybabe,

    I had lost over 80 pounds the year before my recurrence. My doctor congratulated me on reducing my risk - then I had the recurrence anyway. Of course, now I've gained back 60 pounds - and yes, the steroids accelerated the process. Menopause does change your metabolism & makes it harder to lose weight. I learned in Weight Watchers that sometimes not eating enough can prevent you from losing weight - especially if you are exercising a lot. It is very counter-intuitive to eat a little more, but it really can be a factor. Of course you have to make good choices....

    Also I would suggest lots and lots of water.

    Everybody is different, so this may not be helpful, but please know I'm wishing you well!

    Hugs,

    Fran

    Hi Fran,
    thanks for the
    Hi Fran,
    thanks for the advice I have been off the steroids for a year now so hopefully i can begin to lose some weight.I have a follow up 6mth mammogram now in November pray for me that it is negative.

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