Weight loss and fatigue

Noellesmom
Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My husband finished 35 radiation treatments and 3 Cisplatin treatments almost three weeks ago for hypopharyngeal and BOT late Stage 3. He did very well with the treatments, very little nausea, maintained his weight, never lost the ability to eat and felt fairly well throughout the whole series of treatments. In the past two weeks, however, in spite of consuming about 3000 calories a day, he has lost about ten pounds and is extremely exhausted. We have a follow up tomorrow at the chemo oncologist but I'm wondering if anyone else had this experience. I can well believe the fatigue is just really now hitting him (cumulative physical and emotional effects) but I can't figure out the weight loss.

Anyone have this experience post-treatment?

Comments

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #2
    I think it's normal
    I had fatigue and continuing weight loss after treatment. I'm four months out now, and I think I'm stabilzing. I think my body took such a hard hit, I had some serious interrnal healing to do, before I could gain weight and rebuild muscle. I'm starting to do that now.

    Good luck with the doctor's appointment. He should have some insights.

    Deb
  • Bigfuzzydoug
    Bigfuzzydoug Member Posts: 154
    #3
    Get thyroid levels checked
    The thyroid can be an innocent victim to head & neck radiation treatments. Hypothyroidism can result in fatigue, feeling cold, weight loss. Have his levels checked. The answer could be a simple daily thyroid hormone pill.

    Of course I'm not a doctor, but it is something to ask about.
  • RushFan
    RushFan Member Posts: 224
    #4
    He is doing great!
    My goodness, losing only ten pounds...I lost 30. But I had more difficulty with the radiation. I would say that three weeks post treatment I was still very tired, sleeping upwards of 16 hours per day. I had 7 rounds of cisplatin...maybe that contributed to my fatigue.

    Best of luck tomorrow,
    Chuck.
  • rush1958
    rush1958 Member Posts: 223 Member
    #5
    Weight Loss
    I was BOT with surgery prior to 33 rads, 3 cisplatins. I had nausea with the second chemo, but I never lost the ability to swallow any type of food. Food tasted horrible to me and I lost appetite.

    I lost 100 pounds and had a couple of rounds of fatigue, but I had the weight to give. Since treatment stopped in June, I've lost a few more pounds and haven't had any trouble maintaining a realatively stable weight. Fatigue has subsided for me as well.

    Rush
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #6
    rush1958 said:

    Weight Loss
    I was BOT with surgery prior to 33 rads, 3 cisplatins. I had nausea with the second chemo, but I never lost the ability to swallow any type of food. Food tasted horrible to me and I lost appetite.

    I lost 100 pounds and had a couple of rounds of fatigue, but I had the weight to give. Since treatment stopped in June, I've lost a few more pounds and haven't had any trouble maintaining a realatively stable weight. Fatigue has subsided for me as well.

    Rush

    I did great too thru
    I did great too thru radiation and mantained my weight thru rads with my feeding tube, cause my mouth would not tolerate food or drink. It hit the fan a couple weeks after when it peaked and I ended up losing 40 lbs. Try to stay on top of it. My biggest problem was extreme nausea after my feedings, severe pain, and severe fatigue. It was hard because I was alone and didn't have anyone helping me with anything so I think it got away from me a little. I ended up with a pump to feed myself over night and that helped me gain ten pounds back.
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #7
    rush1958 said:

    Weight Loss
    I was BOT with surgery prior to 33 rads, 3 cisplatins. I had nausea with the second chemo, but I never lost the ability to swallow any type of food. Food tasted horrible to me and I lost appetite.

    I lost 100 pounds and had a couple of rounds of fatigue, but I had the weight to give. Since treatment stopped in June, I've lost a few more pounds and haven't had any trouble maintaining a realatively stable weight. Fatigue has subsided for me as well.

    Rush

    weight
    I would still have been concerned about the weight loss, rush1958, because that is a lot of weight, even if you had it to lose. Concern about nutrition, etc.

    My husband is 6' and now weighs 132. The weight loss has been only in the last couple of weeks.

    We will see the doctor tomorrow and see what they say. I have a LOT of questions for him, too.

    Thank you, all, for your responses. They are appreciated.
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #8
    D Lewis said:

    I think it's normal
    I had fatigue and continuing weight loss after treatment. I'm four months out now, and I think I'm stabilzing. I think my body took such a hard hit, I had some serious interrnal healing to do, before I could gain weight and rebuild muscle. I'm starting to do that now.

    Good luck with the doctor's appointment. He should have some insights.

    Deb

    LONG TERM EFFECTS
    I concur with Deb. I am only about 1/3rd of the way through the journey, but I expect my body to react to the treatments for several months post treatment. EAT EAT EAT, Start a mass building excercise plan and you will bounce back.

    MIKE
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    #9
    Noellesmom said:

    weight
    I would still have been concerned about the weight loss, rush1958, because that is a lot of weight, even if you had it to lose. Concern about nutrition, etc.

    My husband is 6' and now weighs 132. The weight loss has been only in the last couple of weeks.

    We will see the doctor tomorrow and see what they say. I have a LOT of questions for him, too.

    Thank you, all, for your responses. They are appreciated.

    Vit C & B Shots
    Hi Noellesmom,

    I was in pretty poor shape the first month or so out of treatment and was re-hospitalized fro 10 days. You are best to seek advice of course but one thing I did when I got back out was to have a course of 7 days of IM shots of a Vitamin C and a B Complex. I repeated this after about 2 weeks for another 7 days. While it was hard for me to tell how much I improved, the Doctor i used for this said he noted a big improvement as did some friends. Remember the rads keep working for a good while after - and the body is trying to eliminate the toxic effect of Chemo and all the other medications (poisons) he had has endured.

    He may be emotionally in a difficult place as many of have experienced once treatment finished. He may be depressed so check for the signs such as crying, the appetite, sleep etc and if you suspect this, then ask for help. Depression can manifest in many different ways, but can and should be addressed.

    Our vital organs, liver, kidneys and digestive tract all get affected by the treatments. If he is getting the food in but losing weight then it appears to be an absorption or metabolism issue. Our stomachs also take a hell of a beating from the medications and lack of activity during treatment so some digestive support may be a possible help.

    It does take a while to get through the post treatment part of recovery and Doctors often don't have a clue why certain things happen but hopefully you get some reassurance at your appointment.

    Regds
    Scam
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
    After Treatment


    Even after treatment stops the one going affects of the treatment continue for weeks, it takes a while but the body does eventually get rid of the toxin and starts to get to a new Normal level.

    Take care my friend
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #11
    Hondo said:

    After Treatment


    Even after treatment stops the one going affects of the treatment continue for weeks, it takes a while but the body does eventually get rid of the toxin and starts to get to a new Normal level.

    Take care my friend

    Weight Loss
    I really had some issues with weight loss also. I was over 200# before treatment. I lost 50# after treatment and have had a very difficult time gaining weight. I'm 5 months post treatment and have gained weight back finally. I'm at 165# now. It tool me awhile to figure it out, but like the old saying on this site "everyone is different". I found thru experimentation that I need 3000-3200 calories/day to maintain my present weight and 3200-3400 calories/day to gain even a little weight. I always was a big eater and my docs and I came to the conclusion that I must have a high matabolism. I still want to gain some healthy weight but getting that many calories in a day is difficult (only reason I still have my PEG).

    Stick with it. It will get better and remember everyone is different, so more calories may be in order to get weight back.

    Good luck!

    Greg
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #12
    Greg53 said:

    Weight Loss
    I really had some issues with weight loss also. I was over 200# before treatment. I lost 50# after treatment and have had a very difficult time gaining weight. I'm 5 months post treatment and have gained weight back finally. I'm at 165# now. It tool me awhile to figure it out, but like the old saying on this site "everyone is different". I found thru experimentation that I need 3000-3200 calories/day to maintain my present weight and 3200-3400 calories/day to gain even a little weight. I always was a big eater and my docs and I came to the conclusion that I must have a high matabolism. I still want to gain some healthy weight but getting that many calories in a day is difficult (only reason I still have my PEG).

    Stick with it. It will get better and remember everyone is different, so more calories may be in order to get weight back.

    Good luck!

    Greg

    more calories
    Hmmmm...Jim is consuming between 2800 and 3000 calories a day right now. May try this weekend sneaking in a few (hundred) more per day and see if that helps.

    Thank you to all for the helpful words.

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