Did anyone else put on weight during chemo?

Grrr, don't get me started on that one! It is very common and not much you can do about it. I have not dealt well with this side effect emotionally. I'm better about having one boob. I was 48kg and got up to 62kg... more than 20% gain. They even increased my chemo dose at the end to cover the gain. My oncol also attributes my ongoing joint pain to weight and says I need to loose it to reduce risk of recorrance. Easier said than done now I'm also on Tamoxifen.

Weight gain is very common @LMW. As @Zoffiel says it is probably the steroids and the fact that most of us go into a chemo induced menopause. I had just lost some weight before diagnosis and was adamant that I would try my best to not put any on. I walked most days and tried my best to eat well but it is awfully difficult. I craved foods that were not the best, like hot chips! This was probably a combination of the steroids and the loss of my taste buds!My walking went by the wayside when I was hospitalised during Docetaxel and in the end, yes, I put on a few kilos.With regular exercise (I started walking for just 10 mins at a time) I did lose those kilos and several more after treatment finished. During treatment you just have to listen to your body and make your way through it as best as you can. I found it helpful afterwards to get support from a dietician and exercise physiologist. I needed that help and support to get back to the weight I wanted to be. Take care. xxx

@LMW it can be done. There are lots of women who've lost it without too much trouble and some really inspiring stories of lifestyle transformations from some other ladies too. During treatment just do what you need to get through and worry about it afterwards. Look after yourself xxx

I lost weight during treatment but I also took almost no steroids, so that may be the problem, as others have suggested, I also had affected taste buds half the time, and almost no taste buds the other half. The only things I could actually taste were all healthy (salads, eggs, avocado), so no temptations to eat comfort food as it all tasted like cardboard! I agree with what everyone else says, address this when your chemo is finished, you will have more energy and be able to see it as a goal/challenge, not just one more thing to get through. Good luck.

Sure did, at least 7 kilos.Most came off very quickly once started on Lasix fluid tablets for very swollen legs and feet on Docetaxel.I am almost back to preChemo weight now 14 weeks later.It was partly due to meds, fluid and eating anything I could stomach which was mostly things like hot chips, cheese, crackers.The dietitian told me not to worry during chemo, but we would address it when the treatment was finished.

Weight gain | BCNA Online Network

19 Replies

LMW
Member
9 years ago
Go me no go you!!!!! 4 years I loveeeeeeee hearing stories like yours. Gives me lots of hope. I’ve done my chemo at Hollywood with Arlene Chan and my radiotherapy is at Genesis care in Subi so we will stay up in Perth a couple of nights each week. It’s too far to drive each day. Fingers and toes crossed for your November visit
HIT
Member
9 years ago
Oh go you, you get so sick of chemo ... oh ha ha ... the radio is a bit of a pain being every day, but goes quickly. Your in Falcon, can you do radio in Mandurah? I was Diagnosed in Nov 13 - finished treatment in April 15. Got my onc/surgeon check up / mammo / us in couple of weeks - 4 years. Think its the last surgeon visit and just 3 more onc visits (fingers/toes crossed)
LMW
Member
9 years ago
No HIT I wouldn’t want you to have to go back on it either. How long ago did you finish your treatment? I’ve got 2 more weeklys then my chemo is finished yayyyy then I’ve got 6 weeks of radiotherapy then I’m done
HIT
Member
9 years ago
It does sound like the steroids make you gain. For me I lost weight while on the 2nd half of chemo (Docs & hercepton) and continued to lose it on just hercepton, even though I was eating like 2 horses all the way through. (I have never eaten so much in my life). As soon as hercepton ceased I gained all the weight back on very quickly. I am now exactly what I was before treatment. My Onc still tells me it was not the hercepton though, and I really don't want to have to back on it to prove my theory correct.
Nadi
Member
9 years ago
Yep. Thanks to the steroids. I always thought people who have chemo lose weight. Before when doctors didn't give steroids to combat the nausea they did lose weight. I was warned about the weight gain ahead of time. I dieted before hand and lost 7 kgs but then put on 9 kgs with chemo. I lost 32 kGS after all treatment finished but now I have been on holiday overseas for 5 weeks and have put on weight again thanks to all the eating I am doing. Hopefully I'll lose it again when I get back home.
Unicornkisses
Member
9 years ago
@Moosie, either ask your GP or anyone you are seeing prior to surgery if you can.
I had to take 2 in the morning and 1 at night to get the stuff to shift.
There was no problem taking it during surgery apparently.
It did take quite some time to go though.
However, the TED stockings and the squeezey things I had on my legs during surgery and for the day, after really helped with the reduction of the fluid, so if you can't do anything prior to surgery, it should be okay to see what you can do after, ask your surgeon at the 1 week check up for a script.
There is sometimes a problem with the TED stockings if your legs are puffed up, they have to use a bigger size than normal and mine went too high up my leg and cut off the circulation behind my knee. My sister (a nurse) was worried about that and told me to get them removed, so if they are painful there tell someone as apparently they are not supposed to be. It kind of defeats the purpose if they stop the blood flow!
socoda
Member
9 years ago
Hey @LMW, I'm a champion weight puter onerer! Didn't need chemo to achieve it either! I have to complete physical training for my work and decided I had better hit the gym to ensure my pec muscle on mastectomy side was going to handle the work training - if I can't pass - no job! AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! So, I hit the gym and started to work out, only problem was my mouth started to work out harder than my body did :s I've managed to put on approx 4 kilos and I don't believe it all relates to new muscle, more like muscle, biscuits, turning post menopausal (I've also lost my waist somewhere trying to find it again). On the good side I did pass my work training so that was all good - now am just targeting diet (without biscuits!!) and exercise. I reckon any weight gain has the potential to make us feel like crap and we don't need that. Don't be hard on yourself as it's so easy to do that regardless of treatments, tablets and our bodies reactions and at least with treatment it is going to give you that time to feel more like you once your treatment is complete. Sending you a big hug. Xx Cath
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
@LMW yep I put on 5kg and 2yrs on not budging, no matter what I do, diet exercise zip!! My Surgeon the other day said the main culprit is the unnatural menopause you get thrown into. I now just do things to the point I feel good, that's it.

x M
Moosie
Member
9 years ago

Unicornkisses I also have huge legs and arms from the fluid I’ve gained from docetaxal. My oncologist said not to take fluid tablets so I’m struggling to walk around and am worried about how I will ever get rid of my fat feet legs and arms and I am having my mastectomy on Monday! Any help appreciated. Lyn.
LMW
Member
9 years ago
When I finish chemo I will find a dietitian and get some tips. Thanks again for your advice I truly appreciate it xoxo