Did you lose weight while on chemo?

Don't refuse the steroids - you are likely to experience more severe side effects. I lost 22lbs on chemo but that could be due to stopping HRT. Anyway, I seem to be keeping it off so I'm happy.

Sue

Yes it is very possible.  I lost 15 percent of my body weight while on chemo.  I just didn't feel like eating most of the time. I hear most people gain weight, but I just felt yuckie.  

I lost 10 lbs while getting AC, then gained it back +5 lbs more while on Taxol.  I was on steroids for both, so don't think it was that.  Just that the AC made me so much sicker than Taxol, I couldn't eat while on it.  Prior to getting sick, my weight never moved...I think it was being thrown into chemopause that caused the weight gain, and since my periods returned, I lost the excess weight I had gained during Taxol.

Hello, Cat.  I lost ten pounds on A/C, then gained back about 6 or 7 on Taxol.  The steroid weight is not avoidable on A/C, but I did not take any of the dexamethasone pills they give you for between the infusions.  On Taxol, I took the regular steroid dose until I was sure I was not likely to have a reaction, then cut the steroid in the infusion down week by week until I got to 2 mg.  and no pills in between.  I just don't like steroids.

The steroid weight came off all at once for me, about four weeks after the last Taxol infusion, and it was roughly six pounds.  I gained it back.  But stayed within 3% of my presurgery weight to this day.  Unfortunately, that's about twenty pounds overweight.  Sigh.

I was told not to try to lose weight during chemo, to eat whatever and whenever you can.  Honestly, I wish I had not taken that to heart.  Eat nutritiously and drink a lot of fluids.  If you lose, you lose.  I will tell you this, it is a lot harder to lose weight once you are on the anti-hormonals, if you are headed there.  A lot harder. I'd have preferred a head start!

Warmly,

Cathy 

I did not lose or gain (A/C).   I remember being very hungry after chemo, but only for that day.   Generally, I just drank protein shakes and ate fruit cups and hot cereals, etc.

I lost at least 20 pounds-partly stress, and partly chemo taking away my taste for food. Scary to keep losing and losing weight. 2 years post chemo and I'm back to my regular weight, which means I could stand to lose 5 pounds!

Best of luck with chemo-it's doable.

Cat

I hated that lack of taste! Everything that didn't taste like cardboard had a weird metallic aftertaste. And I couldn't taste salt at all. Adding more salt just increased the metallic taste. I found tangy foods tasted best - mustard, vinegar, peppers, anything citrus flavored, etc. Good luck and drink more water than you've ever drunk in your life. It will reduce the side effects of the chemo.