Weight Gain with Chemo

suz41
suz41 Member Posts: 33
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hello Ladies,

Anyone have any advice about weight gain during chemo?  I am starting on Monday, November 5 and was told that the average woman gains 10 pounds during chemo.  I will be having AC followed by Taxol and Herceptin.  I could actually stand to lose 10 pounds now so I don't want to have 20 to lose when it's over!  Anybody with experience have any ideas or stories to share?  I am 4 weeks post mastectomy so I am finally able to do some light exercise so I hope that will help.  Suze 

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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited November 2007

    Keep your body moving. You need to keep up your metabolism at the same time eat healthy. Don't be surprised if you still gain weight. Those nasty steroids may do it to you anyway. That's one reason we tend to gain. Can't control the steroids!

    I've gained 15 lbs of steroid weight. Best of luck to you!

    Sharon

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  • mthomp2020
    mthomp2020 Member Posts: 1,959
    edited November 2007

    I've actually lost about 15 lbs.  I am trying to watch what I eat, though, so that makes a difference.  I'm also maintaining the same level of exercise.  The steroids don't seem to have much affect on me, though.  I only get them on treatment day via IV.  I know that some people on Taxol or Taxotere take them for a few days prior to and after treatment, but I only get Decadron as a premed for my treatment on the day of tx - this was true with both A/C and now Taxol.  I guess it affects everyone differently.  I think that Taxol/Taxotere might cause a little water retention/edema, though.  I seem to see a little of it in my thighs - like those need to get bigger!

    Just try to get regular exercise - that should help keep off those unwanted pounds!

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  • sharebear
    sharebear Member Posts: 332
    edited November 2007

    I also only got mine via IV the day of treatment. My problem was that I got weekly treatment , therefore, lots of steroids.

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  • suz41
    suz41 Member Posts: 33
    edited November 2007

    Thanks for the response ladies.  I will be getting treatment bi-weekly for two months and then weekly for 3 months....I guess I'll have to wait and see how the steroids affect me personally.  In the meantime I will do my best to eat healthy and stay active.  Suze

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  • bevnurse
    bevnurse Member Posts: 274
    edited November 2007

    Suz, 

    The steroids are part of the problem but what hit me hard was chemopauseSurprised. My metabolism slowed to a crawl after that hit me. Also the intake of comfort foods when I felt yucky...mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. 

    Give yourself a break and consentrate on getting through chemo the weight can come off later.

    Hugs,

    Bev 

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  • suz41
    suz41 Member Posts: 33
    edited November 2007

    Hi Bev,

    Sounds like good advice.  I've been told I may experience early menopause (which in some ways I don't mind!) but I hadn't thought of the effect on my metabolism.  Oh well, one more cancer-related speedbump in the road.  This too shall pass.......

    Suze  :-)

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  • AlaskaAngel
    AlaskaAngel Member Posts: 1,836
    edited November 2007

    Same here -- my metabolism is extremely slow now -- just to keep from gaining weight I can only eat one meal a day with much smaller portions than I ate prior to chemo, and never eat anything for dessert but unsweetened fruit.

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  • kcq
    kcq Member Posts: 166
    edited November 2007

    I actually lost 12 pounds during chemo.  I have put five back on.  But trying to maintain, because I heard that Tamoxifen makes you gain too.

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  • tracey2424
    tracey2424 Member Posts: 77
    edited November 2007

    i actually lost a lot about 14 pound which i needed to that was one of the good points of chemo that was last may but now piled it back on, still unsure as to whether this is partly due to Herceptin though.

    Tracey. 

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  • my3girls
    my3girls Member Posts: 3,766
    edited November 2007

    I lost weight during my first 4 rounds of A/C.  Then on the Taxotere, and the steroids I had to take, I gained some weight.  All in all, about 8lbs.  I walked at least 3 or 4 times a week, three miles, as much as possible during all my treatments.  I am sure it helped with the weight gain.  I have since finished, and I have lost some of the weight.  I eat really healthy, but the lbs. seem so stubborn at my age (47).

    I guess, it will take a little bit longer than I am used to to lose the weight..patience..I need patience..haha.

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  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited November 2007

    Hi and count me in on the chemo weight gain club! CryCry  Since September, I have gained 15 lbs, which I absolutely despise, because I had previously lost about 45 lbs, and I sure don't want to  gain it back.  I just finished 4 DD A/C, which never made me sick, and I just had my second of 12 weekly Taxol tx yesterday, complete with steroids of course!  The nurse practitioner at the cancer center suggested Weight Watchers Core Program (which I can't afford right now) or South Beach (have the book already, it's great) plus at least 30 min. of daily exercise.  I plan to start Friday, after Thanksgiving, and hopefully get some of this weight off before I gain more.  I hope I still have a metabolism!  Good luck to everyone else out there with wt gain problems and don't despair, because you're not alone!  We will get our bodies and figures back soon!

    Mary Jo

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  • lisettemac
    lisettemac Member Posts: 213
    edited November 2007

    I gained about 15 pounds since dx (chemo, radiation, now tamox and herceptin).  Couldn't say whether it was the steroids, the lack of activity, the comfort foods, the chemo-pause, the tamox .... or all of the above!

    I say try to eat healthy and keep moving, but also give yourself some slack.  My primary focus was doing the treatment (and, of course, a day job, 2 toddlers, a husband, etc, etc, etc).  I figured I could always lose it afterward, if I had to.

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  • anita-S
    anita-S Member Posts: 11
    edited November 2007

    Hi, I too am gaining 10 lbs coz of weekly taxol and the steroids. Its definitely the steroids. I get sooooo HUNGRY that I could eat the kitchen sink! Everything not nailed down goes in my mouth. And to top it off, Im too tired to move, let alone exercise.

    BUT....I figure I am eating healthy, and the weight WILL and DOES come off. I have recurrent b/c and the first time was the same as the second time now. But as your energy levels improve, you will eat less and walk more and it will all turn out to be very very okay.

    Be gentle and kind to yourself. PAMPER yourself and do what it takes to beat the monster out of your body.

    Good luck to all....and hugs!

    Anita

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