Gaining weight while fighting breast Cancer.Anyone eles have this problem?

ppurdin
ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi everyone.Since everyone on this board is so easy to talk to.I wonder if their is some of you like me about gaining weight.I have always had a weight problem.I have taken it off with weight watchers.And gain it back again.When I found out I had Breast Cancer I had lost 20lb. with WW.Was starting to feel good about my self.Then when it took everything in me to fight this beast.I found myself not worry about my weight.When I felt scared,tired,lonely I would eat to feel better.Now I put the 20lbs. back on then some.I finished my treatments a week ago.I know it takes time to get my energy back.But my weight isn,t helping my energy.I want to get back to WWatchers.I know I would feel better,I just need more energy to get started.If any of you have advice please coment.Thank you.Love and Prayers.(Pat).
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Comments

  • 4slurpee
    4slurpee Member Posts: 41
    I soooo understand where you are coming from on this one!
    Pat, I sooooo understand where you are coming from on this one. I too lost the weight with WW. I have had a weight problem most of my life and, like you, gained weight with cancer due to emotional eating. I thought the silver lining to chemo. may have been losing weight but when my onc. told me most women gain about 10 lbs. I was surprised. Now here I am after chemo and rad. being told I may be forced into menopause due to health issues with Tamoxifin (sp?) and am worrying about more weight gain. I too don't have the energy to get started and keep putting off WW and exercise. I don't have much advice because I am in the same boat. ** I guess I am basically writing to let you know you are not alone! ** I know for me it is going to take a swift kick in the tuckus to get myself going. I am also thinking of confiding in a few friends who I know go to the gym to help me get and stay on track. I am also thinking of a discussion board for weight loss too, if this board has helped then another will too. Of course, all of this is in the thinking stage. I know, like you, what needs to be done, just the motivation to do it is currently lacking. I sometimes feel guilty too reading of others who had a life changing experience with cancer and their health for I haven't had it yet. I think I am just too tired at the moment. I am interested to see the advice coming from your request. Good luck!
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    4slurpee said:

    I soooo understand where you are coming from on this one!
    Pat, I sooooo understand where you are coming from on this one. I too lost the weight with WW. I have had a weight problem most of my life and, like you, gained weight with cancer due to emotional eating. I thought the silver lining to chemo. may have been losing weight but when my onc. told me most women gain about 10 lbs. I was surprised. Now here I am after chemo and rad. being told I may be forced into menopause due to health issues with Tamoxifin (sp?) and am worrying about more weight gain. I too don't have the energy to get started and keep putting off WW and exercise. I don't have much advice because I am in the same boat. ** I guess I am basically writing to let you know you are not alone! ** I know for me it is going to take a swift kick in the tuckus to get myself going. I am also thinking of confiding in a few friends who I know go to the gym to help me get and stay on track. I am also thinking of a discussion board for weight loss too, if this board has helped then another will too. Of course, all of this is in the thinking stage. I know, like you, what needs to be done, just the motivation to do it is currently lacking. I sometimes feel guilty too reading of others who had a life changing experience with cancer and their health for I haven't had it yet. I think I am just too tired at the moment. I am interested to see the advice coming from your request. Good luck!

    Hey Pat
    I gained 20 lbs too.

    Hey Pat
    I gained 20 lbs too. Having a hard time getting motivated to get it back off . It's like
    I have no hair, I have one boob and one expander.. how cute can I be right now anyway....eat!!!!Maybe as my hair grows, I'll get more motivated to care how I look again....or as my reconstruction surgery gets nearer...I might start ot want to have a better body for my new boobs....let's hope so anyway.... :)
  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    dyaneb123 said:

    Hey Pat
    I gained 20 lbs too.

    Hey Pat
    I gained 20 lbs too. Having a hard time getting motivated to get it back off . It's like
    I have no hair, I have one boob and one expander.. how cute can I be right now anyway....eat!!!!Maybe as my hair grows, I'll get more motivated to care how I look again....or as my reconstruction surgery gets nearer...I might start ot want to have a better body for my new boobs....let's hope so anyway.... :)

    me to
    i have always struggled with weight and chemo didnt help me any i gained more. since sep i have lost some but i use the treadmill everyday try to eat healthy but still not much difference. winter here does not help either i also thought when i started chemo the weight would come off until the nurse told me i would gain weight yep she was right.and i started tamoxifen in dec a side affect with it is weight gain [roll out the barrel that will be me]


    :0) teresa
  • lovelylola
    lovelylola Member Posts: 279
    Boy do I ever!
    I had lost 53 lbs on my way to being out of the 200's by my 60th B-D and then BC. I have gained back 20 pounds. I'm hoping to be able to get back to work at it since last chemo was last week but can't even go to the store without buying all the "junk comfort foods" I've craved and eaten since my diagnosis. I'm trying to decide on buying a treadmill (which I do like using and can do at home) or just joining the gym (which I would really have to get motivated to go to after work). Shouldn't be a hard decision but I'm also clinically depressed right now (and I haven't even started the arimedex yet!)
    I am just in a major funk. I love the beach and haven't been to it in months (and I can see it from my lanai-porch)
    I know that I need to eat healthy and am working on that. I feel bloated all the time and am going to ask my onco at my next appt in 3 weeks if I can do an intestinal cleanse. I really think I need it. Any other ideas? Oh, I am on a low-dose of Zoloft for the depression and may need to change or up it.
    Now I'm rambling. I still want to be below 200 at least by my family reunion this summer. I know it's doable but I'm having trouble getting started. Lola
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    Hey Pat, I gained 12 pounds
    Hey Pat, I gained 12 pounds with chemo. I can really relate to a lot said, I was emotionally eating for about 4 months....I figure I'll tackle it after I heal from surgery. Just want you to know your not alone in the weight gain.....in due time you'll get it back off, WW is a great program, I love the points system, worked well for me a couple years ago.
    Cyber hugs,
    Kari
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    Hey Pat, I gained 12 pounds
    Hey Pat, I gained 12 pounds with chemo. I can really relate to a lot said, I was emotionally eating for about 4 months....I figure I'll tackle it after I heal from surgery. Just want you to know your not alone in the weight gain.....in due time you'll get it back off, WW is a great program, I love the points system, worked well for me a couple years ago.
    Cyber hugs,
    Kari
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    OK, you guys will hate me,
    OK, you guys will hate me, but I started loosing weight before I found out I had breast cancer. I guess I lost about 25 from Nov of 08-July of 09. I lost another 10 by Sept 09.
    In October of 09-Dec, I lost another 30. I lost a total of 65 lbs. Mostly because of the Celiac. I know many have lost during chemo, but I think most probably did because of being sick from it.
  • Tinabug
    Tinabug Member Posts: 158
    Feel your pain from weight gain
    Hi Pat,

    I wish I had advice, but unfortunately, I am in the same shoes as you. I was diagnosed in Oct & I haven't stopped eating. Actually, when I had my mastectomy, I may have lost a few. However, those pounds returned & they brought some friends with them. My friends cooked for us while I was healing...it was so yummy but not low-fat. My plastic surgeon wouldn't let me even walk fast because of reconstruction. Therefore, eating fattening foods without exercising has made Tina one chubby lady. I am about to start chemo & thought I would lose, but I don't think so. So, I got married in Oct & now I am fat, have scars(emotionally & physically), boobs under construction & about to be bald. I just hope he really loves me. Oh yeah & my oncologist told me I need to lose some weight to help fight breast cancer.

    Tomorrow, I am going to start walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day & cut out the comfort foods(even though I need comforting.) Maybe we all need to start a "Weight Loss Team."

    Hugs,
    Tina
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    75 lbs
    I was in treatment for 18 months and with all the steroids I ended up 75 pounds heavier. Would do it all again in a heart beat though, that was 12 years ago.

    Hugs,

    RE
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    Tinabug said:

    Feel your pain from weight gain
    Hi Pat,

    I wish I had advice, but unfortunately, I am in the same shoes as you. I was diagnosed in Oct & I haven't stopped eating. Actually, when I had my mastectomy, I may have lost a few. However, those pounds returned & they brought some friends with them. My friends cooked for us while I was healing...it was so yummy but not low-fat. My plastic surgeon wouldn't let me even walk fast because of reconstruction. Therefore, eating fattening foods without exercising has made Tina one chubby lady. I am about to start chemo & thought I would lose, but I don't think so. So, I got married in Oct & now I am fat, have scars(emotionally & physically), boobs under construction & about to be bald. I just hope he really loves me. Oh yeah & my oncologist told me I need to lose some weight to help fight breast cancer.

    Tomorrow, I am going to start walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day & cut out the comfort foods(even though I need comforting.) Maybe we all need to start a "Weight Loss Team."

    Hugs,
    Tina

    I couldn't eat during chem
    and I lost 30 lbs. I was sick most of the time and about the only things I could eat were dill pickles and a little fruit. That was the golden lining to those 12 weeks. :-) Now that I can eat again I'm scared of gaining it back and I want to lose a bunch more. I guess it just goes to show how individual we all are and how differently our bodies react to the same chemicals....

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • laurissa
    laurissa Member Posts: 773
    Hi, Pat
    I gained about 10 lbs. My appetite is tremendous. I feel very unattractive at this point. I have no motivation to lose weight now. I'm done with chemo as of today and hope to be feeling better in about a month. I'll be so happy to have my hair back and health. I'm sure we'll all get back on track when we're feeling better.
  • xskeetshooter
    xskeetshooter Member Posts: 169
    me too
    i lost 40 ibs before all this and i gained it back with the steroids and the chemo adds it too.its depressing but i thought oh well i can lose it and grow my hair back, will be worth it, if all this put the cancer in remission.
  • TLynn0102
    TLynn0102 Member Posts: 86

    me too
    i lost 40 ibs before all this and i gained it back with the steroids and the chemo adds it too.its depressing but i thought oh well i can lose it and grow my hair back, will be worth it, if all this put the cancer in remission.

    Weight Gain
    Hi Pat,
    I gained 20 pounds during chemo and I could not eat a thing. I did eat my dinner and drank a ton of water but from there no snacks or anything, I just could not do it. I asked my doctor if this was normal, you would have thought that I would have lost weight. His words were 'yes, we are giving you steroids so you will gain weight.' I joked that maybe I should start to work out and I could look like the Incredible Hulk when I was done with treatment. The weight slowly went away (1 year later) and although I am not back to the number I was before my body seems to be happy with it. Don't worry about it right now just eat right, that is the most important thing right now. Your body needs all the energy it can to fight the beast and food is the best fuel to accomplish this battle.

    Tracey
  • Sam726
    Sam726 Member Posts: 233
    I did
    Yes, I gained 20 lbs during chemo...I found myself eating like crazy due to all the steroids. It sucks cause I just lost this weight the winter before being diagnosed. I hear this is pretty common...
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    Pat, I think it is pretty
    Pat, I think it is pretty common to gain weight during treatments. What also made it worse was the time of year....the holidays. I have been the same weight for years and I do exercise at least 5 times a week and I gained a little weight. Mine was from over indulging on the holiday fare....the sweets. I will stop that now and continue exercising and hope to have the extra pounds off within a month or so. I think the key here is to exercise. It is good for your body and will help shed some weight. I also believe that Weight Watchers is a wonderful program because you eat normal foods...foods that you can continue to eat even after you've reached your desired weight. Good luck!!
  • ppurdin
    ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181 Member
    Gaining weight.
    Thanks everyone for your coments.So I am not alone in this weight gaining.I went to check the ymca out yesterday with my friend.And I was over whelmed watching everyone.every coment said I can relate two.The no hair,eyelashes,the most I have ever weighed.I guess that is enough to make me feel really down on my self.I keep Praying for strenth to do something about it.I think my hair will be long enough to get it trimmed in a very short hair style and have it dyed soon.I was hoping by my birthday next week.but I don,t know it is pretty short.I know that will make me feel better.And the gloomy winter weather here in Ohio doesn,t help the mood either.We will get their eventuly.Maybe we could start a diet thread.We could share receipes and things.Thanks for all your coments.Love and Prayers.(Pat).
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    You're definitely not alone!
    I lost 30 pounds about a year ago, also on WW and was so happy that I was able to keep it off even after canceling my online membership. I've now gained about 10 pounds back so far.

    I've consciously decided not to worry about my weight right now, although I do at least make sure to get a lot of nutritious foods in. My problem is that I'm not saying no to any of the goodies I used to be more careful about.

    Once my treatments are over and I feel more like myself, I will probably join WW online again to work on my eating habits. I did really like their program, as it taught me how to make better choices and I wasn't limited to eating just certain foods.

    I'd be happy to share recipes and join in any diet-related discussions here also - I think that's a great idea to keep us motivated to make the quality of our lives as good as it can be.

    Thanks for posting this, Pat!
  • Ms.Lefty
    Ms.Lefty Member Posts: 3
    Another returning Weight Watchers member
    Hi, Pat - I gained 20-25 lbs after my treatment last year. I'm a lifetime WW member who lost 50 lbs in 2007, so I know how bad you must feel. I rejoined WW in July, but so far, I've only lost 3 lousy pounds! I don't know if it's the tamoxifen or the chemo-menopause, but the weight is coming off so much more slowly this time around. I can only imagine how heavy I'd be if I had'nt joined WW. So you're in good company. Good luck, and hang in there!
  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    I've pretty much maintained
    I've pretty much maintained up to this point, but was told that I will start steroids with taxotere.

    I had a lot of nausea with A/C but didnt loose a d_mn pound, just maintained. I thought for sure I'd loose some weight but didnt. I dont want to gain weight because I'm already at least 40 to 50 overweight.

    I also am a lifetime WW member but not a very good weight looser at this moment. I have no energy to exercise but would welcome a support thread for our weight. I've always had weight issues, they were mostly in my head when I was younger and as I aged that fat head of mine helped me gain my fat body. Ho Hum!!

    A friend of mine once said weight is a lifetime sentence. LOL
  • xskeetshooter
    xskeetshooter Member Posts: 169
    ppurdin said:

    Gaining weight.
    Thanks everyone for your coments.So I am not alone in this weight gaining.I went to check the ymca out yesterday with my friend.And I was over whelmed watching everyone.every coment said I can relate two.The no hair,eyelashes,the most I have ever weighed.I guess that is enough to make me feel really down on my self.I keep Praying for strenth to do something about it.I think my hair will be long enough to get it trimmed in a very short hair style and have it dyed soon.I was hoping by my birthday next week.but I don,t know it is pretty short.I know that will make me feel better.And the gloomy winter weather here in Ohio doesn,t help the mood either.We will get their eventuly.Maybe we could start a diet thread.We could share receipes and things.Thanks for all your coments.Love and Prayers.(Pat).

    dying your hair
    i was told you cant dye your hair for a year