chemo and weight loss

r2424243
r2424243 Member Posts: 51
in Colorectal Cancer #1
My dad is stage 4 colon cancer, doing chemo. He is losing weight! He is trying to eat and gain weight. Is anyone else losing weight? He just wants to make sure he is not the only one.

Comments

  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #2
    While not everyone wil lose weight and some may even put on
    a few pounds while undergoing chemo, your father is not by any means alone....For me, I started at 178 and at my lowest, dropped to 126......Let onc know about this and any other effects...

    I'd read that "Fish oil fights weight loss due to chemotheraphy" (at:physorg.com/print218091674.html) tho don't have your father take anything not approved by doctors (as it may impede,negate,imperil his treatment)....Using nutrition drinks like Ensure Plus, Boost Plus, CVS Plus (I suggest the Plus version as you get more calories for the same amunt of liquid) may help abit in addition to whatever food is eaten (and chemo may change a person's taste in foods, no longer liking what one used to eat and now preferring foods cooked differently, for instance....)


    It also depends on if weight loss is affected by extreme diarrhea,loss of appetite,failure to hold down food w/o throwing it up,extreme fatigue--all of which the onc can provide help to alleviate....Always keep his doctors informed of reactions to chemo,whatever they may be....Best of results.......steve

    ......
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    coloCan said:

    While not everyone wil lose weight and some may even put on
    a few pounds while undergoing chemo, your father is not by any means alone....For me, I started at 178 and at my lowest, dropped to 126......Let onc know about this and any other effects...

    I'd read that "Fish oil fights weight loss due to chemotheraphy" (at:physorg.com/print218091674.html) tho don't have your father take anything not approved by doctors (as it may impede,negate,imperil his treatment)....Using nutrition drinks like Ensure Plus, Boost Plus, CVS Plus (I suggest the Plus version as you get more calories for the same amunt of liquid) may help abit in addition to whatever food is eaten (and chemo may change a person's taste in foods, no longer liking what one used to eat and now preferring foods cooked differently, for instance....)


    It also depends on if weight loss is affected by extreme diarrhea,loss of appetite,failure to hold down food w/o throwing it up,extreme fatigue--all of which the onc can provide help to alleviate....Always keep his doctors informed of reactions to chemo,whatever they may be....Best of results.......steve

    ......

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #4
    I ate after every run to the
    I ate after every run to the bathroom and still lost 30lbs during chemo. I would eat a banana and ginger cookies as the minimal. There was times Bananas and ginger cookies were the only foods I could keep down. Lomotil and baby wipes became very necessary.

    Low Residue Diet and when I got more normal, then I switched to the Zone diet. These helped me not run to the bathroom and maintain weight. I balanced out and still eat the zone diet for the most part.

    Best Always, mike
  • pscott1
    pscott1 Member Posts: 207 Member
    #5
    Since my diagnosis in 1/11,
    Since my diagnosis in 1/11, I have lost 18 pounds. I had a really hard time getting my appetite back after my surgery, mainly because my taste buds changed. After I started chemo it was hard to make myself eat but I have just learned to force myself. I just finishe my 3rd treatment of Folfox. For the first 3 or 4 days I'm pretty nauseous but I start taking Zofran 2 days before my treatment, 8 mg every 8 hours. When I can I drink Ensure plus. With the neuropathy I can't drink anything cold until about 12 or 13 days after treatment but I can drink OS Cranapple juice at room temp. After my first 3 days are over I just load up on calories. I eat 4 or 5 times a day even if they are small helpings; that's what my Onc told me to do. Now I have built my appetite back up almost to normal. I was 138 lbs when I went in for my surgery and I have got myself back up to a little over 127. You just have to do mind over matter. At least it is working with me. I figure when the diarhea portion of the side effects hit me it doesn't matter what or how much I eat, it will happen regardless. Luckily that hasn't been a very bad side effect for me so far. Just encourage him to eat a little something even if he doesn't feel like it. I'll be praying for him!

    Good luck,

    Pam

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