Weight Gain Question

Ctine70
Ctine70 Member Posts: 150
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi all,
Going next week for my third round of Taxotere and cytoxan and notice that my weight is bouncing all over the place big time. I hardly eat but if I have a good day and eat three meals I put on like 3-4 lbs . I know I need to talk to My onco next week but was wondering if anyone else has experience weigh gain on these drugs. It's so frustrating cause they say you need to eat to kept up your strength but you eat you gain. I works so hard to lose 20 lbs before I got diagnosed I would hate to have cancer make me put it back on. I had to quit the gym cause I am too tired to work out. Even walking a short time makes me physically exhausted. Any suggestions
Thanks
Hugs Christine

Comments

  • 47ronin
    47ronin Member Posts: 16
    #2
    Weight Gain
    Hi, Ctine 70, I think the weight gain affects all of us. Are your docs giving you steroids with the chemo? That can stimulate appetite and drive your weight up. Also, a lot of us feel tired out for a few days after chemo. I'm just starting to get back to the gym now, and need to get back into working out. I wouldn't worry about weight gain while you are on chemo. Just concentrate on getting through that. When you finish chemo you can gradually increase your activity level. Wishing you healing, Pat
  • Wendy Joy
    Wendy Joy Member Posts: 51
    #3
    47ronin said:

    Weight Gain
    Hi, Ctine 70, I think the weight gain affects all of us. Are your docs giving you steroids with the chemo? That can stimulate appetite and drive your weight up. Also, a lot of us feel tired out for a few days after chemo. I'm just starting to get back to the gym now, and need to get back into working out. I wouldn't worry about weight gain while you are on chemo. Just concentrate on getting through that. When you finish chemo you can gradually increase your activity level. Wishing you healing, Pat

    I was on the same combo and
    I was on the same combo and I had a slight weight gain. Up and down 4 pounds. I contributed it to not being able to exercise, I am normally pretty active. However during chemo I was exhausted even walking up one flight of stairs and walked everywhere, but with chemo needed to get rides. My daughter is 8 and I could hardly keep up with her. I never gained more than that. Now that I am finished and taking Tamoxifen I am still up 5 pounds, but not more.... I just concentrate on not gaining more rather than obsessing over losing that 5. I am 5 month post chemo and my energy level is completely back to normal!
  • Wendy Joy
    Wendy Joy Member Posts: 51
    #4
    Wendy Joy said:

    I was on the same combo and
    I was on the same combo and I had a slight weight gain. Up and down 4 pounds. I contributed it to not being able to exercise, I am normally pretty active. However during chemo I was exhausted even walking up one flight of stairs and walked everywhere, but with chemo needed to get rides. My daughter is 8 and I could hardly keep up with her. I never gained more than that. Now that I am finished and taking Tamoxifen I am still up 5 pounds, but not more.... I just concentrate on not gaining more rather than obsessing over losing that 5. I am 5 month post chemo and my energy level is completely back to normal!

    Also I should mention one of
    Also I should mention one of the most annoying parts of this is that everyone around you expects you to look like a skelaton b/c you are on chemo. So peole would make stupid commenets and always tell me to eat more you look skinny. The general public does not realize that people don't lose a bunch of weight on chemo like they did in the past.
  • heart-in-hand
    heart-in-hand Member Posts: 92
    #5
    Yes, my weight was all over the place too.
    You put it exactly right. It didn't seem healthy to lose 4-5 lbs the week after chemo, then gain back 5-6 every single chemo treatment. I need to lose 5 lbs now that I am off. But when you are in the treatments there is no energy to burn off the calories. And you really can't eat the low cal food when your mouth is burnt: like salads, and raw fruits and veggies.

    I think that others also blamed the Decadron anti-nausea for it. Hang in there! You are staying on top of the game with your knowledge. Try not to go for the sweets and high calorie foods as much in the week prior to the next chemo...that worked for me to try to get back down before the next bout.

    I am in your corner...with the battle wounds to show for it!!!
    Sending a big hug,
    Kay
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #6
    47ronin said:

    Weight Gain
    Hi, Ctine 70, I think the weight gain affects all of us. Are your docs giving you steroids with the chemo? That can stimulate appetite and drive your weight up. Also, a lot of us feel tired out for a few days after chemo. I'm just starting to get back to the gym now, and need to get back into working out. I wouldn't worry about weight gain while you are on chemo. Just concentrate on getting through that. When you finish chemo you can gradually increase your activity level. Wishing you healing, Pat

    Not all gain
    Not everyone gains weight - some of us lost. I lost 45 lbs while in TX. Dr was not happy with me at all as he did not want me to gain or lose more than 5 lbs. I did gain about 10 back last winter (2 years post TX) but am now down about 20 from then. We are each unique and our bodies react differently.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan
  • Wendy Joy
    Wendy Joy Member Posts: 51
    #7
    Rague said:

    Not all gain
    Not everyone gains weight - some of us lost. I lost 45 lbs while in TX. Dr was not happy with me at all as he did not want me to gain or lose more than 5 lbs. I did gain about 10 back last winter (2 years post TX) but am now down about 20 from then. We are each unique and our bodies react differently.

    Winyan - The Power Within

    Susan

    I'm sorry Susan, I should
    I'm sorry Susan, I should not speak for everyone. I just think in general people expect a lot of weight loss and you are right everyone's bodies react differently and there are different cocktails.
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #8
    Yes I gained
    Right before I was finished I had only a few pairs of shorts that fit. I refused to buy any bigger ones as I knew I would be off chemo soon. Sure enough within 6 weeks of being off chemo I was able to fit into the previous size. If you can walk a bit while on chemo it may not help so much with weight gain as it does with keeping nausea reduced. It is hard to do this though.

    Also once I was done with treatment I joined a senior energize class. I was not yet a senior but when I explained that I was trying to get back in shape after cancer treatment and that I wanted to start out gently they welcomed me into thier class.
  • Ctine70
    Ctine70 Member Posts: 150
    #9
    laughs_a_lot said:

    Yes I gained
    Right before I was finished I had only a few pairs of shorts that fit. I refused to buy any bigger ones as I knew I would be off chemo soon. Sure enough within 6 weeks of being off chemo I was able to fit into the previous size. If you can walk a bit while on chemo it may not help so much with weight gain as it does with keeping nausea reduced. It is hard to do this though.

    Also once I was done with treatment I joined a senior energize class. I was not yet a senior but when I explained that I was trying to get back in shape after cancer treatment and that I wanted to start out gently they welcomed me into thier class.

    Thank you all...
    For your feed back glad to know I'm not going crazy. Lol
    I guess it's all part of the journey to get better
    Hugs Christine
  • ShariM
    ShariM Member Posts: 3
    #10
    weight gain
    I took the same chemo as you. I gained about 15 lbs. while on chemo. I too was concerned about it. My oncologist said to concentrate on eating a healthy well-balanced diet. I think that steroids had a LOT to do with the weight gain. I took my last treatment in October 2011. It took a few months but that weight did come off. Just try to eat healthy food and drink LOTS of water.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #11
    Wendy Joy said:

    I'm sorry Susan, I should
    I'm sorry Susan, I should not speak for everyone. I just think in general people expect a lot of weight loss and you are right everyone's bodies react differently and there are different cocktails.

    You are right Wendy in that
    You are right Wendy in that is what people expect..no reason to apologize at all.


    Hugs, Noel
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #12
    Hi Christine :)
    i had the
    Hi Christine :)
    i had the same chemo drugs as you and i also gained considerable weight. They pump you full of steroids, the chemo constipates you, your metabolism slows down, and if youre on pain meds that slows you down also. Plus being less active because the chemo makes you so tired. I compldetely understand what you're experiencing with the weight gain.
    Have you tried doing some simple yoga? If youre physically up to it, i would give it a try. I wish i had been able to stay active during treatment - i had to go through 3 months of physical therapy as part of my recovery process because i just lost so much muscle tone and ability because of the sheer exhaustion i had during chemo. It was very painful and its been hard to get back into shape. Im getting there, but it's been 2 years since my last chemo :/
    If you're just too tired - thats ok! Just rest! Get as much rest as you can. You have plenty of time to get back into the swing of things when you're finished with treatment. Now is your time to let your body rest, and let other people do things for you.
    All my best,
    Heather
  • Ctine70
    Ctine70 Member Posts: 150
    #13
    Heatherbelle said:

    Hi Christine :)
    i had the
    Hi Christine :)
    i had the same chemo drugs as you and i also gained considerable weight. They pump you full of steroids, the chemo constipates you, your metabolism slows down, and if youre on pain meds that slows you down also. Plus being less active because the chemo makes you so tired. I compldetely understand what you're experiencing with the weight gain.
    Have you tried doing some simple yoga? If youre physically up to it, i would give it a try. I wish i had been able to stay active during treatment - i had to go through 3 months of physical therapy as part of my recovery process because i just lost so much muscle tone and ability because of the sheer exhaustion i had during chemo. It was very painful and its been hard to get back into shape. Im getting there, but it's been 2 years since my last chemo :/
    If you're just too tired - thats ok! Just rest! Get as much rest as you can. You have plenty of time to get back into the swing of things when you're finished with treatment. Now is your time to let your body rest, and let other people do things for you.
    All my best,
    Heather

    Thanks Heather
    Glad to know I'm not going crazy everyone keeps saying to me that they never heard of weigh gain during chemo.
    I am so tired all the time just doing th simplest thing wears me out. But I will give yoga a try
    Thanks
    Hugs Christine
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #14
    Ctine70 said:

    Thank you all...
    For your feed back glad to know I'm not going crazy. Lol
    I guess it's all part of the journey to get better
    Hugs Christine

    NO, you are not going crazy.
    NO, you are not going crazy. If you are, we all are too. It will get better for you Christine. You just have to take it one day at a time.


    Hugs, Angie

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