Treatment related weight gain photos...

Oh my gosh, your site is freaking awesome!  How on earth did you get those surgical photos?

I'm freshly diagnosed and have had nothing yet - so your site has done exactly as designed - give me some insight into what I can expect.  Thanks so much!

JGrim,

I'm 7 years out from dx and tx, and have quite a bit to say about this. The weight is a problem not only because of the way we look and feel, but also because it is a significant recurrence risk.

The physiologic basis for it is very clear, although you won't hear about it from medical providers. For one, with treatment our testosterone levels drop like a rock, and testosterone is a steroid that helps us build and maintain our muscles. So at the very time when we need to "get back in shape" we don't have the testosterone level that used to help us do it. 

In addition, a support drug that we generally receive during treatment is the steroids like dexamethasone, and that is what often contributes to weight gain for so many of us. I think medical providers prescribing it with therapy are too "loose" in using that steroid support, mostly because they never have to personally struggle with the weight gain from it themselves.  Even worse, they don't think of steroids in terms of the long-term threat to us. They are so focused on getting us to do treatment  initially that they are blind to how much it contributes to recurrence in the form of weight gained -- and especially in people that are being forced into menopause.

One effect of menopause is the slowing of metabolism. We get dumped after treatment, left fat and set up for recurrence. The activities and dieting that worked for us in the past no longer work, and in fact even with constant discipline they allow our weight to continue to rise. On average, in order to avoid further weight gain (not even leading to weight loss) the postmenopausal diet has to be cut by around 400 calories a day permanently. To that we are to add daily exercise (7 days a week) of 30 minutes just to avoid continuing to gain weight, or an hour or up to 1 1/2 hours a day if we want to lose weight.

That is what no one talks about when they tell us treatment is "do-able".

-AlaskaAngel

Hi, I was interested in your post as I gained a lot of weight after my lumpectomy. Then I went to your site and saw that we share a huge affection for cats too. I have six and feed six strays in my garden. I think my weight gain was mainly due to the tamoxifen and a lack of activity. I managed to lose 44 lbs and promptly put 22 back on over about a year when I gave up on my diet. I am currently trying to get myself motivated to exercise again but it's not easy. The only way I seem to be able to lose weight is to be very strict with myself and I'm just no good at it lol.

Good luck

Hugs

Mags

Hi; love the site.  Very creative and very helpful.  I managed to stay pretty close to my post surgery weight by declining the oral steroids, and as soon as permitted, stepping down the infusion steroid dose to 2mg (with Taxol)  The steroid weight--maybe five pounds) came off all at once.  And was then replaced by the Arimidex weight, at the rate of about a quarter to a half pound a week.  Scary, really.

Lily, on the Johns Hopkins Ask an Expert site, says you have to get below thirty grams of fat a day.  So basically, that's Weight Watchers points system.  Exercise does not seem to do anything as Alaska Angel points out, although I think it lifts my spirits and the dog appreciates it.

I appreciate knowing it's not just me; thanks J!

Cathy

I gained 35 lbs. since dx.  I blame it on tx, rads, Herceptin, steriods, etc.  Talked to onco this week at 3 month checkup and told him how awful I feel and look.  He said it was because of my age (I'm only 54 WTF) that our metabolism slows  I wanted to smack him (except I really like him).  I look like the Michelen Tire boy, and feel eight months pregnant.  Weight is all in my middle.  That roll is larger than my new foobs

Ellen

EGAL,

I am with you on the whole doctor doesn't get it about the weight thing.  I gained 30+ lbs myself and my female onc said that it really didn't show because I am so tall (5'10").  When you are thin all your life or used to weighing the same thing, adding 30lbs is a lot.  She never got it and I quit complaining about it because she started categorizing me as depressed when I complained.  I just wanted to lose the weight and now, after 2 years I still carry the weight around.

Elaine

Thanks for posting and letting others know that this is a common side effect of treatment.  When I was diagnosed, the attitude I tried to take was that at least I would lose weight with this whole thing.  I have gained about 20lbs. so far and one more chemo to go.  This has been the hardest SE for me to deal with because no one seems to take it seriously like it was a SE.  Most just say "I will lose it when I am done", doctor says "Our you eating well" and laughs.  One nurse told me it would take work to get it off when chemo is over, it will not just come off when I am done with the steroids.  I do wish this was talked about more seriously by the doctors to women having to go through this.  I was never told that weight gain could be a SE and I think even knowing this would have helped me deal with this better.  Thanks for starting this thread and making people aware that this is a real concern that many of us go through!!!

Hi Thank you for sharing your photos, now I dont feel like I am out there on my own.  I have been exercising for 1hour everyday with a huge change in my eating habits but I still risk weight gain - go figure I thought.  One other side effect of the steriods are very sore joints and a disc that collapsed.  My surgeon explained that it was due to the steriods but my onc. just said it was because I am getting "on" in age - Ah hummm I am 52yo.  didnt think I would be in more pain then my mother and mother in law (both in their 80's!!).

Julia, Your site is absolutely wonderful! I had no idea what the inside of a breast looked like. Now it's clear why it can be so hard to find a lump, what with all the tapioca pearls. I'm relieved to be relieved of mine! Thanks for sharing your personal experience.