I Can't Eat!

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seaniebopp
seaniebopp Member Posts: 41
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I'm new to this board and I really need help.  I was diagnosed in May with DCIS.  Since then I have not been able to eat.  I went from 160 pounds to a current weight of 125 pounds.  Is this normal?  Is there anything that I can do to increase my appetite?  Please help.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2013

    Hi Seaniebopp, and welcome to Breastcancer.org,

    We're sure you'll be getting lots of support and advice from others here shortly, but in the meantime, you may be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's side effect page on Weight Changes, including tips on managing weight loss. There's also some helpful advice on the Eating to Maintain or Gain Weight After Treatment page.

    We hope this helps!

    --The Mods

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  • mrenee68
    mrenee68 Member Posts: 383
    edited August 2013

    Seaniebopp I know how you feel. When I first started my journey food would make me gag and I really didn't have much of an appetite. My father brought me protein shakes because he said I was losing to much weight. I did the best I could and tried to treat myself with some of my favorite foods. As time went on I started eating more and maintained my weight. Be kind to yourself and try and eat healthy. This is a scary and sometimes overwhelming process. Take care and treat yourself!

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  • Janet456
    Janet456 Member Posts: 507
    edited August 2013

    Your appetite will return.  I lost loads of weight last year with the stress and being unable to eat.

    It's ironic that I am now on a diet - as when my appetite did return - it came back with a vengence.

    xx

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  • OldOakTree
    OldOakTree Member Posts: 173
    edited August 2013

    When I was diagnosed 10 years ago I couldn't eat anything but the bare necessities.  I lost 10-15 pounds real fast and I'm thin to begin with.  Everytime I put food in my mouth I felt like gagging.  I was also severely depressed.  Evenutally I was prescribed an antidepressant.  I started feeling good again, my appetite came back and so did my weight.

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited August 2013

    I'm with Janet - lost a good bit of weight during treatment (which in my case was a good thing) but am now struggling to keep it off as my appetite did return.   Not that I would wish the stress back, but I wouldn't mind having kept a little of the appetite suppression!

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  • seaniebopp
    seaniebopp Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2013

    Thanks Ladies for responding.  Just hearing your words of encouragement and suggestions made me hungry :) !  I am going to try to eat small frequent meals.  Hope it works.

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  • riverhorse
    riverhorse Member Posts: 126
    edited September 2013

    When first diagnosed I couldn't eat and began to lose weight I made appointments with my PC doctor almost every day as I was convinced it had spread etc. finally one day she told me I needed to see a shrink. My appetite returned that very minute. In retrospect I think th weight loss (maybe 5 lbs) was due to self induced

    stress.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited September 2013

    I lost lot of weight in beginning. Went to my primary care NP. She prescribed a liquid med to increase appetite.

    Cant remember its name. Megace. Dont take this. Not for bc pts. Luckily only on it for couple days before my MO took me off.

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  • MizMarie
    MizMarie Member Posts: 332
    edited September 2013

    I found it very difficult to eat, especially those first few weeks - I simply had no appetite and had to force myself to put food in my mouth.  If I mentioned anything I thought I would maybe enjoy, my sweet husband would race to the store to buy it for me.  Eventually my appetite returned and I gained back all the weight I lost, plus a few more pounds.  I'm back to watching my calorie count, but it was fun while it lasted.  Hang in there!  :-)

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  • brooklynne
    brooklynne Member Posts: 3
    edited September 2013

    I lost my appetite, too, once I was diagosed.  But, it did return about a month or so later. You might be surprised at how much that diagnosis can create stress and lead to a loss of appetite.  I've had one lumpectomy and since a few margins weren't clear, I just found out I have to go back in for a second surgery.  Once again, I found myself eating less and less - I'm down to about one meal a day, but I'm sure my appetite will get back to normal eventually...  Just give it some time, but in the meantime, you should maybe seek therapy to help get you through this which may help.  Good luck and keep us posted!

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  • EJgirl
    EJgirl Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2013

    hi...in the beginning i lost my appetite and must say that sometimes some foods turn me off..like sweets!!! can you imagine? i LOVE sweets! but can't seem to get them down. My appetite did come back after the second round of chemo. i go every 21 days and i heard each cycle can be different in the way you feel . Hang in there, it will come back! But in the meantime, drink shakes with bananas, or strawberries, or whatever you fancy...keep us posted!Laughing we are all here for you!!!

    o...by the way , i too have dcis...

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