Weight gain

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enjoylife
enjoylife Member Posts: 578
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I know there are no dumb questions I knew when I had my babies I would gain weight but no one told me through treatment instead of loosing you would gain for the 6-7 days after treatment I want to eat then I my appetite gets back to normal but I guess its the treatment that makes you gain and I hope it goes away its a struggle to get some pants on ha I haven't been walking that might have something to help with it but last summer I was skinny belinney now and the steroids I take for 3 days blot me up I think so 2 more after this and then I am going to watch what goes across my lips to my hips....

Maura

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  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 2,466
    edited July 2008

      Hi maura,

    I just finished chemo and oh my am I a porker!  They told me it was the steroids (not of course the ice cream i practically had on IV) but everyone says it comes off after.

    I did not expect this either, but then, never expected to get bc twice.  At least we are here to bitch about it!

    It will come off.

    love to you

    annie

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  • VBG
    VBG Member Posts: 227
    edited July 2008

    Hi Maura and Annie,

    Well I would like to blame my treatment but the stress of getting my second dx sent my straight into "eat everything I want" mode which helped me pack on the unwanted pounds!  I have not been this heavy since I was pregnant!  The chemo meds do make my weight fluctuate up to 5 lbs a day!

    I am now trying to eat better and stay away from take out food!  I am very concerned that having the ooph, and then going on AIs after chemo, will make losing weight even harder!  I am hoping to get back to the gym when chemo is done and that this weight will magically disappear! 

    Okay so I can dream!  My hope is to have my body back to normal by the time my hair grows in so I have a number of months to work on it LOL!

    Glad I am not alone!

    Valerie

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  • enjoylife
    enjoylife Member Posts: 578
    edited July 2008

    Sounds good to me to get hair and a nice butt back and then a new boob wow its like a re-built motor in a chevy a 51 model ha girls ####### 4 tomorrow 3/4 done measure every moment and enjoy. My plastic surgeon wants me to send her a picture of my boob she put a extender in and she is in Boston I am in MO so she laughed I said its not like I can ask just anyone to take the picture my sons nieghbors ha so I am waiting for a friend of mine to take it tomorrow my 17 year old said please dont load it on our computer I guess he doesnt have confidence in my computer skills ha .....Kids you have to have humor to raise them .....

    Maura

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited July 2008

    I back in chemo for the 4th time...I just got my weight down 25 lbs that I gain last year while on treatment.  You may also notice that your stomach is extend all the way up to the top of you stomach.  This is a lovely chemo belly.  It's due to the chemo inflammation in your stomach lining.  One more joy of treatment.  Good news this does go away in a few months.  I really detox my body when I got a break from chemo, and this help me loss the weight and gave me back all my energy.  Well...at least I got to get rid of the lbs before adding more....

    Flalady

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  • snowyday
    snowyday Member Posts: 1,478
    edited July 2008

    I gained weight with chemo as well and my sister was feeding me like crazy because I was so skinny when I stated it.  But the steroids sure add weight.  Mine is finally all gone and I feel normal and can get into favorite clothes again, But when I gained the wieght it was in winter and I was living in PJ's or sweat pants so I was really surprised when I tried to put on my jeans.  It wasn't to bad with the FEC but with taxols they really upped the steroids and the weight just flew on it was weird.  I know now that I won't over eat just for the sake of getting calories into me this go round.  In March I still couldn't wear my favorite clothes but by the end of May I could.  So the roid weight left me fairly quickly although it didn't seem that way at the time.  Good luck with it.

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  • myheidiscrapbooking
    myheidiscrapbooking Member Posts: 245
    edited July 2008

    Yah, I was thinking on Chemo, i'd lose that extra weight! and it went the opposite! Coudn't believe it! Lose my appetite? puuuleeeze. It got worse! Your not alone.

    Heidi

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  • enjoylife
    enjoylife Member Posts: 578
    edited July 2008

    Just got out of the 4th chemo 3/4 done all blood work looks good so far and I will loose the wieght I have all this to look forward to after chemo the hair is very slowly coming in after 5 weeks of getting it shaved off so new hair nice butt back, new ta ta next summer how great can life infact I will have to say this will be my virgin ta ta no one has every touched it ha been along time since I was a virgin besides being married for 32 years divorced 4 this month ... OH yeah I dont think the red popcile thing works I already have a numb tong so it was worth a try and we will see but I dont think I can ever look at another red pop....

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  • booklady
    booklady Member Posts: 70
    edited July 2008

    FloridaLady, how did you detox?  Cant get in any of my old clothes and new ones are getting too small.  I gained about 25 lbs- all of which seems to be in my belly.  I need help because what I'm doing isn't working.  thanks

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  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 2,466
    edited July 2008

     Wow I am sooo glad to read all these....the CMF chemo did put weight on my stomach (and butt and thighs) so much, but after last txt last week, it seems to be coming off a bit already.

    I think some exercise and eating less will help too....well, life is precious right?  This was an unexpected (to this degree) side effect. 

    Anyone know how long it took?  My onc says up to a year? Argh!

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  • enjoylife
    enjoylife Member Posts: 578
    edited July 2008

    anniebelle; I think its up to the individual and I am going to radiation after and I think my wieght will come off rather quickly if I get tired I tend to not eat as much and I will try to get into a excersie routine if its not anything but wieghts and my stomach things I have a bean I bought over a year ago and had my son blow up last week for me now all I have to do it sit on it and do the dvd maybe chemo stay in weekend this weekend ha I would like to know how Flordalady did detox too if it doesnt come off on me I might try it . Going for my nalusta 4th shot 3/4 done yepee...

    Maura

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  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited July 2008

    Hi everyone!

    Ah, the weight gain with chemo issue... This has stressed me out as much as having breast cancer!!!

    Last year, before my diagnosis last June, I had achieved a 45-pound weight loss, was feeling the best I'd ever felt in my life except for menopause symptoms (which I still haveYell) and was wearing clothes I hadn't worn in years and at 51, could run circles around anyone.  I worked really hard to lose the weight, cut out all junk food, went to the gym regularly, etc. Then, got my dx, started chemo in September '07, finished it in January '08 and I STILL have the 20 pounds I gained back during treatment.  I know I need to get it off to help prevent recurrence and improve my overall health, but I'm not putting forth enough effort.  Some days I'm just tired and don't care. Like Heidib said, I too thought I'd be sick and lose my appetite--- NOPE!  My metabolism came to a screeching halt.  I know it is a combination of menopause and chemo and steroids, but the scary thing is I can't seem to stay away from sugar and junk food now, but at least I eat nutritious foods too!   I am still taking Herceptin and will finish that in November of this year, so hopefully my metabolism might start up again after that.  But, in the meantime, I'm just happy to have the cancer out of me and have my life back.  Now, if I could just zip my britches!

    Floridalady, can you please elaborate on your Detox program?

    Take care everyone and hang in there-- we'll lose this weight!

    Mary Jo

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  • booklady
    booklady Member Posts: 70
    edited August 2008

    bump

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  • PurpleCircle
    PurpleCircle Member Posts: 8
    edited August 2008

    This sounds a lot like me. I stared treatment Sept.07 and finished chemo Jan.08. I was in very good shape before,my life revolved around the gym. I gained 35 pounds!!!! YIKES!!! I was more upset about the weight than I was about my hair loss. Hair grows back by itself but the weight takes work. Finished radiation at the end of March 08,and started to work out again. The weight doesnt want to come off!!!! This Sucks!!

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited August 2008

    Sorry ladies I did not keep up with this thread.

    I went to a homeopathic MD at a cancer clinic and he helped me do this. I did a very controlled diet for six weeks. (or 4 weeks if that's all you can handle. I did it for 3 1/2 months.)  This is to speed up pushing all waste ( and chemo/dead cells) out of your Liver, Stomach, Galbaddler and Colon. Also rest the stomach from processes foods that are hard to break down like meat and diary.   I need to go back and research the mix I took besides the diet.  You can find all the supplements at a health food store. I will check and get back with you ladies.  The mix drink is a little yucky but it has minerals, that help draw out the toxins from these areas. I felt WONDERFULLY after doing this. I also made remission for the first time and stay that way for six months, until I decide to go back to my old ways....

    DIET - Fruit, Veggies, Deep cold water Fish only, small amount of chicken once a week, only Olive Oil to cook with,  water, green tea, all herbs, nuts not salted or sugared, brown rice, sweet potatoes, one cup of white rice a day, everything only "lightly cooked or steamed",   (can use juicer or blender to get a lot of these at once and also raw.) **He did say if you have to cheat...eat more fish.

    The long list of NO..NO's (remember this is only for 4 to 6 weeks. Most important No Red Meat, Dairy & Sugar)

    Red Meat, pork, lamb, NO dairy!, sugar or artificle sweetners,  white potatoes, white rice, NO SALT, no white flour or grains, fried foods, no citrus, no bananas, no beans, no soy.

    no caffeine, pickled foods, no cooking oils but olive oil, NO nightshade veggies - tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, white potatoes, because they can stimulate imflammatory response in the the body.

    mmm....I need to pullout my notes again. I know there are more no-no's.   I know this sounds tuff....but I can guarantee you will feel 100% better.  Even my dentist said my teeth and gums look so much better.  This completely lowered my high blood pressure and cholesterol I got from chemo.

    You need to come out of the the fast slowly, add a few of these over a couple of days.  Add beans and eggs back in first and than more chicken and fish.  Last wheat and diary.  Only if you have too red meat last.

    I will update this when I get home from work today.  Yes! I still working full time.

    Drink mix:  Psillium 1 tbs & Bentonite clay 1 tsp in cup of water - 1/2 hour before breakfast and at bed time. This does not have a lot of taste but it gritty. 

    If you can do chemo you can do this.

    Flalady

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited August 2008

    bluewillow - you sound just like me.  Before all this, I'd lost 55 pounds, and at age 51 also felt better than I'd ever felt in my life.  Then wham!  I acutally had my biopsy on my 52nd birthday (Happy Birthday to Me!), then I had a bilat, chemo that ended in June, and now Femara for the last 6 weeks.  Four weeks ago I finally felt strong enough to start working out again and eating right.  I've been doing the same diet/exercise for the last 4 weeks that I did to lose the 55 pounds, and based on my reactions during that time, I should have lost at least a couple of pounds during this 4 weeks.  NOT!  In fact, as of this morning, I'D ACTUALLY GAINED A POUND!!!!!!  Yell

    I am SO aggravated about this whole thing.  My dh was very comforting this morning - he said right now the important thing is to build up my strength in prep for my DIEP in October, and to just keep working out and eating healthy, and worry about the weight once I recover from that.  Good advice, but geez!  

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  • Magellan2007
    Magellan2007 Member Posts: 11
    edited August 2008

    I regularly eat like this. But how are you going to get sufficient calcium if you don't eat dairy?

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  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited August 2008

    This diet is not a forever diet, this is a cleasing diet.  But I did take calcium supplements.  If you read about your greens...they have a large amount of calcium in them.  Here is how it was explained to me...  How do you think large grass/plant eating animals grow so big and have great bones and muscles on grass/plants? Example: Horses or even elephants? They do not eat dairy.  Race horses come to Ocala Florida to winter, because there is so much calcium in the grass and this helps to protect them from injury. Research shows humans digestive system show we are suppose be plant eater's also.  Now I wouldn't go that far...Laughing

    Flalady

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  • irishdreama
    irishdreama Member Posts: 938
    edited August 2008

    I lost a lot of weight during the AC, but taxotere put it all back on, and then some. It certainly didn't help that I craved salt something fierce dring the taxotere treatment, and consequently, my legs and feet swelled up. I still have to take 20mg of Lasix daily because of the edema. I'm finally starting to get my weight back under control. Flalady, I'd love to try the cleansing diet, but I'm not sure I could give up the salty foods.

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  • enjoylife
    enjoylife Member Posts: 578
    edited August 2008

    Irishdreama;

    Was the lasix for the water wieht I know my onc said because my feet and arms legs are swelling I can take a duretic have you or anyone else taking one during chemo if it helps me feel more comfortable with my wieght I am all for it. When you speak of cleansing diet is it just eating greens veggies etc?

    Thanks for any info

    Maura

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  • irishdreama
    irishdreama Member Posts: 938
    edited August 2008

    Hi Maura-Yes, the Lasix is a diuretic for water weight. I feel so much better when I take it, no swelling in my legs and feet. Bad enough the taxotere caused some permanent neuropathy in my feet, without having to deal with the swelling as well!

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