has anyone else gained weight on chemo?

putzie
putzie Member Posts: 66 Member
edited October 2022 in Breast Cancer #1
I know this shouldn't be of concern to me, fighting my cancer should (and is), but...I have gained about 10 pounds since I started chemo. I am less active, yes, but still exercise and my eating habits have been about the same. I am curious if others have and if so, do you lose it when chemo is done??? Thanks all!!!
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Comments

  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #2
    Hi, Putzie -
    I didn't gain weight while on chemo, but it's very common, because of the steroids they pump you full of.

    So many of our friends and family have outdated ideas of chemo, where you're supposed to waste away -- and when you don't, it must be your fault! NOT! Weight gain really is a common side effect of the steroids.

    I'm sure others with more experience with this will weigh in (no pun intended!)

    :-) Traci
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #3
    Ok let me start by saying...
    HOLY COW!!!

    I gained 20 pounds. My positive body image - DESTROYED

    I used to be a Pilates instructor, toned, nice body and now
    call me chunky.

    At first I was devastated but now all I think of is getting
    my body back.

    I think it was the steroids and the fact that I don't run
    anymore that did me in.

    Ayse
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #4
    TraciInLA said:

    Hi, Putzie -
    I didn't gain weight while on chemo, but it's very common, because of the steroids they pump you full of.

    So many of our friends and family have outdated ideas of chemo, where you're supposed to waste away -- and when you don't, it must be your fault! NOT! Weight gain really is a common side effect of the steroids.

    I'm sure others with more experience with this will weigh in (no pun intended!)

    :-) Traci

    HAHAHA Traci
    I am weighing in ALRIGHT!!!

    Ayse
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    #5
    I gained weight with chemo
    I gained weight with chemo also. I thought once i was done with chemo id loose the weight but now the tamoxifen is makin me gain weight (which i was put on right after chemo). Ive always been a very small person and its really hard for me to gain weight but i gained 12 pounds. Now that im feelin better after chemo ive tryed exercising and watch what i eat ect and im still gaining weight...12 pounds may not sound like much to most people but for me its alot, and it seems no matter what i do the weight keeps comin!
    Sorry putzie, wish i could say chemo doesnt cause weight gain but hopefully youll be able to loose it once chemo is over.
  • ms.sunshine
    ms.sunshine Member Posts: 707 Member
    #6
    jo jo said:

    I gained weight with chemo
    I gained weight with chemo also. I thought once i was done with chemo id loose the weight but now the tamoxifen is makin me gain weight (which i was put on right after chemo). Ive always been a very small person and its really hard for me to gain weight but i gained 12 pounds. Now that im feelin better after chemo ive tryed exercising and watch what i eat ect and im still gaining weight...12 pounds may not sound like much to most people but for me its alot, and it seems no matter what i do the weight keeps comin!
    Sorry putzie, wish i could say chemo doesnt cause weight gain but hopefully youll be able to loose it once chemo is over.

    I went thru chemo didn't
    I went thru chemo didn't gain weight, then went thru surgery now rad. and yes I'm gaining weight. I'm so tired, I'm doing good to just go to rad everyday, wash dishes, laundry and cook something. I have no energy to exercise.
    To make matters worse my husband isn't being understanding about the fatigue, and weight gain. I can't worry with him I have to get myself thru rad.
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    #7
    ms.sunshine said:

    I went thru chemo didn't
    I went thru chemo didn't gain weight, then went thru surgery now rad. and yes I'm gaining weight. I'm so tired, I'm doing good to just go to rad everyday, wash dishes, laundry and cook something. I have no energy to exercise.
    To make matters worse my husband isn't being understanding about the fatigue, and weight gain. I can't worry with him I have to get myself thru rad.

    Awhhhh...ms sunshine thats
    Awhhhh...ms sunshine thats sad about hubby not being understanding with ALL the side effects...maybe he needs more education on it. I feel for ya but your right dont worry about him just concentrate on getting yourself through this.
    MEN!!!
  • maggie24
    maggie24 Member Posts: 3
    #8
    jo jo said:

    Awhhhh...ms sunshine thats
    Awhhhh...ms sunshine thats sad about hubby not being understanding with ALL the side effects...maybe he needs more education on it. I feel for ya but your right dont worry about him just concentrate on getting yourself through this.
    MEN!!!

    weight gain
    I just had my third tx yesterday with taxotere and cytoxin and will get the neulasta injection today. Have also been on heavy doses of steroids with each tx. I have gained about 10 pounds since all this started. Food seems to taste better than ever, especially the sweet stuff. I am trying to eat better choices now. Everyone told me that food would taste awful and that has not been the case for me at all. I only have one more treatment to go and am hoping that I can go on a diet than.
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #9
    Yes Mamm! I gained about ten
    Yes Mamm! I gained about ten pounds too. Think it was because I didn't get sick, sick. Totally normal said my doc :)
    ~Kari
  • putzie
    putzie Member Posts: 66 Member
    #10
    ms.sunshine said:

    I went thru chemo didn't
    I went thru chemo didn't gain weight, then went thru surgery now rad. and yes I'm gaining weight. I'm so tired, I'm doing good to just go to rad everyday, wash dishes, laundry and cook something. I have no energy to exercise.
    To make matters worse my husband isn't being understanding about the fatigue, and weight gain. I can't worry with him I have to get myself thru rad.

    Ms....I am sorry that your
    Ms....I am sorry that your husband isn't being very understanding. Maybe he should get some education on cancer. Could you take him to a visit with your oncologist?? Support is so very important and if you don't get it from him just talk to us everyday. We all understand and will be here to lift you up!!!! XXXXX OOOOOO
  • GrandmaJ
    GrandmaJ Member Posts: 209
    #11
    pinkkari09 said:

    Yes Mamm! I gained about ten
    Yes Mamm! I gained about ten pounds too. Think it was because I didn't get sick, sick. Totally normal said my doc :)
    ~Kari

    Weight
    No weight gain from chemo, but the Femara is making me gain weight and I don't need any extra weight !!

    Judy
  • apple25
    apple25 Member Posts: 14
    #12
    gained weight
    I gained 30 pounds during my 6 months of chemo. A week before my chemo treatment, I went to the doctor for my blood test so they checked my weight. A week later, they checked my weight again and I had gained 10 pounds in a week !!! I almost fainted. The doctor told me that gaining weight is normal, but no one bothered to tell me. I t took about 6 months after my chemo ended to finally lose all the weight.
  • Christine Louise
    Christine Louise Member Posts: 426 Member
    #13
    ms.sunshine said:

    I went thru chemo didn't
    I went thru chemo didn't gain weight, then went thru surgery now rad. and yes I'm gaining weight. I'm so tired, I'm doing good to just go to rad everyday, wash dishes, laundry and cook something. I have no energy to exercise.
    To make matters worse my husband isn't being understanding about the fatigue, and weight gain. I can't worry with him I have to get myself thru rad.

    Venting
    My husband isn't being very sweet about my "new" body either. Adding weight gain to bi-lateral mastectomy to hair loss to no energy has about destroyed my self-image. I'm trying, I'm trying to stay positive and get some exercise, and I think things can get better, maybe with some help. Take good care of yourself, ms. sunshine. You're right about focusing on getting through your treatments.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #14
    Lost weight
    I lost about 40 lbs while on Chemo (A/C and Taxol) and an aditional 5 while on Rads. Since the end of Rads I've been able to hold even at 132 +/- 2 lbs. Been on Femara for the last 4+ months. Chemo Dr. was not happy about that much loss. Did not have ANY nausea at all - just lost all appetite and everything had absolutely no flavor/taste. Taste started coming back a couple of weeks after the last Taxol quickly. Appetite still isn't really back but at least I'm able to maintain weight now. I think that Hubby is more relieved about that than I am - Mom had been aneroxic for as long as I can remember but he saw what the last 4 years of her life were like for all of us and me not eaqting and dropping weight so fast really got to him much more than the hair going or anything else. At the worst he would call me several times a day to see what I had eaten and remind me I HAD to eat - now he just askes what I ate during the day when he gets home from work. He's a good guy - a keeper but then I've already kept him for 34 yrs and he has tolerated me (LOL).

    Susan
  • aysemari
    aysemari Member Posts: 1,596 Member
    #15
    apple25 said:

    gained weight
    I gained 30 pounds during my 6 months of chemo. A week before my chemo treatment, I went to the doctor for my blood test so they checked my weight. A week later, they checked my weight again and I had gained 10 pounds in a week !!! I almost fainted. The doctor told me that gaining weight is normal, but no one bothered to tell me. I t took about 6 months after my chemo ended to finally lose all the weight.

    Sheesh
    I was starting to feel bad about my twenty =)

    For me too it was as you said, I gained it in a jiffy, it was bizarre.

    Ayse
  • putzie
    putzie Member Posts: 66 Member
    #16
    Rague said:

    Lost weight
    I lost about 40 lbs while on Chemo (A/C and Taxol) and an aditional 5 while on Rads. Since the end of Rads I've been able to hold even at 132 +/- 2 lbs. Been on Femara for the last 4+ months. Chemo Dr. was not happy about that much loss. Did not have ANY nausea at all - just lost all appetite and everything had absolutely no flavor/taste. Taste started coming back a couple of weeks after the last Taxol quickly. Appetite still isn't really back but at least I'm able to maintain weight now. I think that Hubby is more relieved about that than I am - Mom had been aneroxic for as long as I can remember but he saw what the last 4 years of her life were like for all of us and me not eaqting and dropping weight so fast really got to him much more than the hair going or anything else. At the worst he would call me several times a day to see what I had eaten and remind me I HAD to eat - now he just askes what I ate during the day when he gets home from work. He's a good guy - a keeper but then I've already kept him for 34 yrs and he has tolerated me (LOL).

    Susan

    I didn't think about the
    I didn't think about the fact it could be just as devastating for a woman to lose a significant amount of weight as those of us who are gaining it. I am getting good feedback from everyone that our bodies will lose or regain most of the weight once we stop our chemo..yay for us!!!

    Christine....You especially are in my thoughts. It does do bad things to our self image when we look in the mirror and have gained a bit of weight and are bald. Biggest of all, the loss we feel if we lose our breasts. Please remember you are a beautiful woman and very strong to have gone through what you are doing. When I feel that way, and sometimes I do, I try to do something that makes me feel feminine, even if I am just hanging around the house. A little make-up, lipstick, a pretty top....something that gives you a smile.
    Hang in there sweetie!!!
  • laurissa
    laurissa Member Posts: 773
    #17
    I gained 5-10
    My appetite was huge, even when things tasted bad, I still ate. I'm still having trouble eating right. So I haven't lost any weight yet.
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #18
    I gained 20 pounds on chemo.
    I gained 20 pounds on chemo. I've lost some of it but it's slow going. Parly because I don't want to diet.
  • faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy
    faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy Member Posts: 319 Member
    #19
    Nope
    My oncologist was gracious enough to alert me to the probability that women in my age group frequently see a 15 pound weight gain during adjuvant therapy. Actually, he just advised me that it would happen. However, my weight remained consistent during the entire 18 weeks. I was encouraged to eat and drink as I pleased and did so because I wanted to make damn sure I stayed on course and that there was no excuse to reschedule a treatment.

    I'm beginning to lose faith in this guy, however. I had no nausea, no outrageous side effects, and am beginning to wonder if my chemo wasn't just placebo water. Also, I noticed his shoes don't tie, but velcro. I just don't trust anyone over 5 that can't tie their own shoes.

    Funny, how the weight gain and hair variables in this whole cancer equation really matter to us. I was concerned too, but it just didn't happen for me.
  • Balentine
    Balentine Member Posts: 393
    #20
    Marcia527 said:

    I gained 20 pounds on chemo.
    I gained 20 pounds on chemo. I've lost some of it but it's slow going. Parly because I don't want to diet.

    Wow...I lost weight actually
    I am surprised that it seems everyone gained weight. I only had 4 rounds of taxotere and cytoxan but I lost weight if anything. Also since my final chemo I have put myself on a mostly vegetable and fruit diet, no dairy and only chicken maybe twice a week and have lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks. I wonder if it depends on the chemo you are on.
    Lorrie
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #21
    Balentine said:

    Wow...I lost weight actually
    I am surprised that it seems everyone gained weight. I only had 4 rounds of taxotere and cytoxan but I lost weight if anything. Also since my final chemo I have put myself on a mostly vegetable and fruit diet, no dairy and only chicken maybe twice a week and have lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks. I wonder if it depends on the chemo you are on.
    Lorrie

    It's all how your body handles the 'stuff'
    I believe that as with everything else - we are each so unique. I had 2 different regimens - 4 A/C before surgery and 12 weekly Taxol after surgery and as I said I lost significant weight (40 lbs.). I also lost 5 lbs during my 5 weeks of Rads. Since the end of rads (Mar 4 2010), I have been able to maintain the 132 I dropped to (I'm 5'6"). I started Femara on Feb. 11, 2010.

    It does seem that there are more gaining but definately not all!

    Susan

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