Did anyone else pick up weight with chemo?

Options
Margie7121
Margie7121 Member Posts: 19
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hi there!

Did anyone else pick up weight during their chemo??

I just finished 6 cycles of chemo a week ago (yeahhh!!) but I am sad to report that I had picked up 2 pounds with each chemo cycle!

I am not sure if it is water retention or what or why... I follow a healthy diet consisting of fruit, raw vegetables, fish an chicken, no alcohol, caffeine, spicy food or red meat.

I would love to hear if someone else also had this problem and would it go away as the chemo works out ??

I have neuropathy in my hands and arms and the fatigue is really bad, so hopefully within a few weeks I can start on a exercise program after surgery. Just would like some advise and input.....

To all the ladies out there still going thru chemo, stay strong and believe, it will all get better this is all part of the big program to make us better and to become survivors!!

Thanks for this blog it has been a life saver and mental stability for me seeing and knowing that I am not alone!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • lisa137
    lisa137 Member Posts: 569
    edited June 2014

    Yeah, I gained about 10 pounds over the course of 8 chemo treatments. It's all gone now though, (finished chemo March 31st) and I'm a pound lighter than I was when I started chemo.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mebmarj
    mebmarj Member Posts: 380
    edited June 2014

    Weight gain wasn't a big deal when I did CEF back in 2004.  Lots of steroids due to taxotere and carboplatin in 2011.  I gained 19 lbs in 3 months.  My diet wasn't great with chemo, carbs were the only thing that tasted good or that my mouth could tolerate at times.  My activity level and pain level improved after finishing treatment.  Neuropathy improved also after chemo ended. Weight came off slowly, so have patience.  Good luck to you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,906
    edited June 2014

    I gained 60 pounds over the 6 months of CMF.  Carbs carbs and more carbs.  Plus I didn't move very much.

    3 years later I am on T/C and I think it's helping me keep my weight down.  I just don't feel like eating very much.  Still, I have 30 pounds left to lose.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Margie7121
    Margie7121 Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2014

    Thanks for your replies, so glad it is not just me!!

    Again this is an amazing forum and thank you to everybody for all your help, advise and positive words, makes the burden so so much lighter to know you are not alone!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rosiesride
    Rosiesride Member Posts: 513
    edited June 2014

    I was underweight at dx so I tried to gain a few pounds thinking all people with cancer lost weight!! NOT!! I gained about 15 lbs...just ended TAC June 2....I was a few pounds lighter 2 days ago, but now it's back!  I am sure it will come off once we get active again!! Hoping....Rosie ( of course I I just had 2 huge pieces of pizza!!)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Margie7121
    Margie7121 Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2014

    Rosiesride I also thought I would LOOSE weight with chemo as that is the general concept people have about cancer, but I did some reading online and I read that chemo for breast cancer DOES make you gain weight, other that the rest of the cancer and chemo´s you get.

    Guess as soon as the energy and strength comes back after the last chemo and moving around more it would be gone and I can not wait for my hair to grow back!! Guess that is the best part of stopping chemo, you know it can only go better from now on!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited June 2014

    In today's world, thanks to all the drugs used to prevent some SEs more gain weight than loose it.  I am one of those who did loose weight on both of my chemos.  I never had any nausea (thanks to the meds) but I lost all appetite (Hubby had to call me several times a day to remimd me to eat something).  I also lost all sense of taste amd smell.

    There is no 'One Size Fits All'!  We are each so unique in how our insividual bodies react to anything.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories