Does Everyone Gain Weight?

I lost about 16 pounds over a six month period which was weight that needed to come off.  For me, the key was maintaining muscle mass and walking/cycling.  I also made sure I ate enough protein during chemo.  I aimed for 80g per day, which is a lot.  Also drank a ton of water.

So it can be done. 

The main focus should be on staying healthy and fit.  I discovered that I couldn't do the amount of exercise I normally do, and sometimes it took everything I had to get my butt out the door and walk.  But I did it.

For me, it wasn't a question of "having control", but of managing to a successful outcome and not having a trashed body on the other end.  I succeeded, although I did learn that you have a long recovery period despite what you do.  To give you an idea, my proudest moment was doing a cycling event and also a training ride during Taxol.  True, these were relatively easy, but I did them.

Good luck, and yes, we do get there. - Claire

It can be done, for sure. Not that I did it    Part of it depends on what chemo you have; and if you don't have chemo, it's a bit easier to not gain.  Chemo does such a great job of kicking you down that many women gain weight because they're too tired to move much -- and it can also mess with what does and doesn't taste good or appeal to you to eat.  I did gain because I got too tired to walk by the time I got to rads (chemo, surgery, rads for me) and I was too tired to cook and what I could eat wasn't the healthiest.  But I didn't beat myself up for it and am going forward.

I know what you mean about wanting to control what you can and I say go for it -- but do be prepared to be gentle with yourself if you can't keep up exercise or eating the way you want.  Since you're already really fit it'll help you a lot to keep up as much of that as you can -- makes recovery after treatment a bit faster and easier.

Best of luck and a warm hug.

So you can continue to exercise during Chemo????  can you do it through the whole thing? or are there times when just to beat?  Also, I know this may sound dumb but can you bike ride, pilates?  I am starting Chemo on 4/28, I have always worked out and ever since this news and other family losses I am in a slump, and I want to get back on track.  I do eat pretty healthy, has anyone ever juiced? and can you during Chemo?

I lost about 5 lbs during chemo without doing anything (except, apparently, not eating enough).  I've put 5lbs back on in the year since my TX ended, so I'm back to exactly where I was pre-BC diagnosis. I've always been on the thin side and BC treatment didn't change that.  Good luck to you!

Patty

Melmes.. I gained about 12 pounds during 6 rounds of chemo.  I have always been very active with cycling, tennis, golf... you name it.  I was thin, not too thin though.  I did what I could while going through chemo and am back feeling 100 percent now.  I have only managed to lose about 2-3 or those pounds and then I started Femara last November... it just seems that it is so hard to lose anything now.  Through our cold winter months in Chicago area, I have been back at the health club 4-5 times a week.  Added swimming to my workout as it seems to keep any LE at bay.  Frustrating though as I watch everything that goes into my mouth.  It is messing with me also.  I have a whole wardrobe based on me weighing 126 pounds.  arrrgh!

Melmes,

I gained about 20lbs on taxol.  Every week my weight would go up 2 to 3 lbs and my legs and feet were puffy.  After finishing taxol and being careful about watching my salt intake, the weight has started to come off. 

Penny

I didn't gain weight during chemo (ate what I wanted but watched the portion sizes....plus chocolate tasted like chalk....). I also kept exercising during chemo, faithfully but at a slower pace. I haven't gained on Arimidex; in fact, I've have recently lost a few pounds by doing the good old 'count the calories' routine. If you want some fun exercise partners, check out the 'Lets Post Our Daily Exercise' thread. If you want some weight loss buddies, check out 'Wednesday Weigh In'. Best of Luck! Ruth

Melmes - i was premenopausal, probably gained about 8 - 10 pounds thru chemo (CMF chemo so not a difficult, and I was continuing light exercise).  I started femara and did not gain weight.  The following summer I started running and have lost 20 pounds, and kept it off without dieting, but eating in a healthy way (still have treats and the occasional glass of wine).  I run more consistently in better weather, but really love it, which is totally new for me.  I feel lucky that femara has not been an issue for me - no side effects to complain about, and have not gained weight.  I had gained weight before diagnosis so am back to my normal weight, which I am happy about.  I was  also concerned and felt a bit doomed regarding weight when I was diagnosed as I kept reading how women gain weight, or can't lose weight on hormone therapy, etc. etc.  Don't lose hope, I think it is a very individual thing.

I was 95 lbs heavier when I was diagnosed with BC and had already decided to lose weight.

 I lost weight during chemo and herceptin and continued to lose as I finally stopped being perimenopausal and became postmenopausal (1 year after finishing my year of herceptin).

There was times when I was going through my AC chemo that I couldn't move because of fatigue.  However, most days I managed to at least drag myself out for a walk around the neighborhood.

A note about bike riding: Chemo can mess with your inner ear and cause stability problems.  For that reason, an oncologist might tell you not to bicycle ride during chemo.  I know my oncologist preferred I not ride my bike, but I started again during my year of herceptin.

Lupron shut down my ovaries and I gained several pounds.  Doctor told me to watch my salt.  I did and the few pounds came right off.  I also walk twice daily, every day.  Rain or shine.  Raining, it's off to the mall and I see folks with walkers...walking!  So if they can, then all of us can!

Good luck!

Everyone is different.  Some people gain, some lose, and some maintain - even if they're doing the same amount of exercise and healthy eating. It's just one of those individual things.  

Unfortunately I was one of those who gained on chemo.  Prior to dx I'd successfully lost 55 pounds and kept it off for 3 years by being extremely physically active and eating a healthy diet. So I knew what it takes to lose weight and to maintain it.  At least I did with my pre-b/c body.  

But that all changed.  Once I started chemo, the weight came on, and I gained 20 chemo pounds.  I attempted to keep working out through chemo (6*TAC) but I also worked full time during chemo, and by the end it was all I could do to drag myself to work and back, so I did little to no exercise the last few treatments.  Also, as Nature said, chemo screwed up my tastes.  I wasn't nauseated, but I also could only eat bland foods such as mashed potatoes and white rice.  Even brown rice wasn't appetizing.  And as we all know, white processed foods are killers when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight.  

I've been Femara now for almost 3 years and am determined to avoid gaining the Femara 15.  I'll be honest that it's difficult, but so far so good.  But my body has definitely changed because of chemo and now Femara.  I'm doing the same amount of diet/exercise I did to lose the 55 pounds, but with my new changed body, I have to do all that just to maintain.  I know it's the Femara as I've gone off of it a few times (with my oncologist's approval) and immediately started dropping weight.  But once I go back on it, the weight creeps up.  

While I would love to lose weight, my realistic goal is to get through my remaining 2 years of Femara with a healthy lifestyle and not gain.  If I can maintain while living a healthy lifestyle, then I'll be primed to drop the weight once I'm free of Femara.  

As Ruth said, the Let's Post Our Daily Exercise thread is a great motivator to get yourself out and exercising.  And the Wednesday Weigh-In provides accountability, so please check us out!  Both threads are in the  Fitnessa and Getting Back in Shape area.  

My experience only: I gained weight due to hormone therapy (Lupron and Tamox) and am still dealing with the remnants. Didn't do chemo or rads. I think at least part of the reason why I gained weight on hormone therapy was because I was so fatigued that I could barely move.

Hello!

I am half-way through my chemo now after 4 sessions of Fluoroucil, Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide and I have only put on one pound and not lost any weight!

It is fair to say that I have been allowing myself a few treats - chocolates and crisps - but not very many! My steroid dose was also reduced to half as I was not suffering from nausea but it was on the advice of the oncologist!

Everyone is different, of course, but I can honestly say for me that the worst thing about chemo was the anticipation. It was really not that bad! I say that but start Taxotere on Friday.

Good luck!

Alice

It would make a big difference if each person would post their general age at time of treatment.

Those who become fully menopausal have more trouble with weight gain because becoming menopausal causes slowing of the metabolism.

So when those who are still in their 40's or younger post that they were able to stay a normal weight or get back to it without a lot of effort, and thus, believe chemo is so "do-able", they are NOT speaking for the majority of breast cancer patients, and are generalizing unfairly. The majority of patients diagnosed with breast cancer are 60 years or older at time of diagnosis.

In addition, those who do not become fully menopausal are at higher risk for recurrence hormonally speaking, and have to do additional treatments (if applicable) to compensate for that. But at the same time, due to the weight gain from slow metabolism, patients who have gained weight and can't lose it are also at increased risk.

In addition, younger bc patients have more testosterone, which provides more muscle mass to help them exercise. Older patients can do the identical amount of exercise and still not lose the same amount of weight as their younger counterparts because there is less muscle to use to burn calories, due to lower testosterone levels. Testosterone helps to maintain muscle mass.

Older patients also tend to accumulate abdominal fat, whereas fat distribution is more general for younger patients.

Hi everyone

Alaska Angel makes a good point re general age at time of treatment...

I was 49 when diagnosed in January and had my 50th birthday in March and lost a stone (14 pounds) in a month after diagnosis by cutting down on red wine and ready meals.

Have only put on a pound since, even though I am post-menopausal, but I do go for a 20-minute walk each day and was reasonably fit before diagnosis.

Good luck to everyone!

Alice