Gain or Lose Weight During Chemo?

Strike_Two

What was your experience?  Would you mind sharing?

Thanks.

SpecialK

I gained a few pounds prior to chemo because I had five surgeries between Nov 1st (BMX w/TE) and Feb 17th, the date I started chemo.  Clearly I was not able to work out or go to the gym with that many surgeries in a 14 week period.  I did not gain during chemo until after the 3rd tx when I was put on steroids before, during, and after tx. Prior to that 3rd tx I was only getting steroids in my pre-meds on the day of chemo. The vast majority of that weight was fluid retained due to chemo drugs and the steroids - you need to eat 3500 calories and not burn it off to gain a pound, and I was definitely not eating nearly that much.  I gained about 10 pounds with the last three tx.  Most people lose that average 10 pound gain within the first couple of months post-chemo.   

alcb70

I just finished my last chemo round a week and a half ago (yay!), and I gained 9 lbs overall.  I spoke to my MO and he said that it's only water weight. Between the fluids you get, what you drink (you should drink 2-3 quarts after chemo), steroids and the meds itself.....it happens.  He said that it'll come off soon.  I'm also in chemo induced ovarian failure (menopause) so I'm sure that doesn't help.  It is crazy that you can actually gain weight on chemo. I loved that line in The Devil Wears Prada about only being a stomach flu away from goal weight.  I was hoping that if I was going to have to suffer through chemo that I could lose some weight....no luck!  I also ate what I wanted/was in the mood for. That probably didn't help.  Ice cream helped my mouth and esophagus not feel like hamburger quite so much.  Although you don't want it to get out of control....my MO said now is not the time to worry about it.  Do watch your weight though, because you need to be cautious if on Herceptin (risk of congestive heart failure). Hope this helps! 

Sassa

I had 4 AC and 1 year of herceptin.  The chemo and herceptin both gave me the side effect of anorexia (loss of appetite).  I made sure I ate nutritious meals but was never tempted to overeat or snack.  After the 1 1/4 years that the chemo and herceptin lasted, I was down 60 lbs. 

I often refer to my chemo "diet" plan.  It was worked as well for me as the pregnancy "diet"plan (40 lbs on that one.)

curveball

I think I gained about 5 lbs during chemo, but it was 5 lbs I had lost due to a nasty intestinal bug right before I was dx, plus all the worrying I did when I found out I had cancer and trying to make up my mind about MX vs LX. So I am now at about the same weight as pre-dx, or possibly a tad lighter.

Camillia

I had 4 rounds of chemo and did not gain or loose any weight. I ran before my DX and obviously stopped half way through chemo but I managed to go on with a semi-normal daily routine. My appetite stayed the same (with the first 2-3 days after chemo being less hungry) as it is normally and I made a point of keeping healthy eating habbits :-)

Strike_Two

Thanks, ladies, for replying.  One of my daughters is marrying in September, and I'm not exactly thrilled about gaining weight when I just lost weight, and would like to lose more.  

RosesToeses

Congratulations on the upcoming wedding!



You can add me to the group who maintained the same weight during chemo, but I did go up and down a lot with fluid, so don't panic if you see that! They weigh you every visit and I would go in one day for my infusion at my normal weight and the next day for my Neulasta and be 5-7# heavier--but it would be back to normal in two weeks for the next infusion, and it's gone now, so it's all good!

auntienance

I lost weight but that was mostly due to stomach issues (severe acid reflux) I developed with taxotere.

rozem

lost weight...12lbs on my 123lb frame was quite a bit

have since gained it all back!

Outfield

Your experience is going to be your own.  As you talk to more people, it will be clear that we all respond to chemo differently, and we also get our chemo in different patterns depending on our specific cancers and on our health status before we start it.  Some regimens are definitely easier than others.  

Both my medical oncology center and my radiation oncologist had nutritionists who worked with them.  It might be worth finding out ahead of time if you have easy access to one.

RoulaG

I gained 20+ pounds on TCH. Still haven't lost an ounce and I am almost 6 months PFC, but still doing herceptin every 3 weeks. :-(

SelenaWolf

My weight held steady during chemotherapy with dose-dense AC+T.  I, only, started to lose weight when I started taking tamoxifen (dropped ten pounds) and started the Metformin clinical trial (dropped another eight pounds).

Nel138281

Gained about 7 or 8 lbs.  Steroids, and my onc said eat when you feel like it, don't eat when you don't and don't worry too much about what you are eating, tho try and eat as healthy as you can.  So I consumed much in the way of comfort food.  And was not excercising.  I am back to excercising, but need to get a better grip on my eating habits.  Still too much in the way of comfort foods, but it is also winter here in New England and way too much time inside!

Be well

Nel

Shrek4

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BilateralBeauties

I had just lost 50lbs when diagnosed. I've gained through chemo and beyon about 40lbs are back. I'm trying to love my curves and refocus my energy to lose. I'm eating better food, but not necessarily low cal. Whole and natural foods. Good luck.