Weight gain

Hi Al

I read your post with such a smile - well done you getting your bounce back!  I too have started getting alot of comments from people about my "new" hair - how great it looks, how amazingly well I look, blah blah blah. I must have looked totally rubbish before all this is all I can think! (Personally, I think my new hair is horrible and I can't wait for it to grow but I'll admit I was quite vain about it before.)  My clothes still fit the same as before so I haven't lost weight, sure, my skin is looking good but really!  Why do people make such a fuss of the superficial?  We have been through a life and death experience and I wonder, is it because they really just don't want to think about that?  I think we are fantastic, all of us! xxx  

Hi Julie,

Just thought Id quickly share.

I had 16 rounds of chemo resulting in a 14kgs weight gain. I must say that at the time I thought oh great I fail at being a cancer patient ,because I think everyones perception of a cancer patient is of a frail, gaunt, pale, emaciated person. The doctors aim is for us not to lose weight. That is why they give us steroids, anti nausea meds and weigh us every damn visit. I too comfort ate my way through chemo, food was my friend and I  agree that when everything taste like you are licking a metal ashtray I was totally looking for the holy grail of food and ate my way through every salty highly flavoured snack around. Plus chowed down on a chocolate thickshake everyday to soothe the burning mouth.

On the plus side it does come to an end. I finshed last may and have lost around 10kgs and am walking and seeing a naturopath to try and claw my way back to health.

Getting through chemo is to be celebrated. You are definately not alone.Good Luck!!

Cheers Jo xox 

Hi Julie! I think you know what I meant! Sorry Increasing light not decreasing - editting skills aren't what they used to be - chemo brain!

Good luck,

Alison xx

Why are we women so hard on ourselves? Ofcourse you'd be having 'downers"- you've lost a boob,lost your hair, feeling crap from chemo.At one low point I felt I'd completely lost my identity-couldn't recognise myself in the mirror anymore.It  can all rock your confidence. I've had breast cancer twice in the same breast-2003 and again in 2010.Getting a recurrence 7 years later really pulled the rug from under me. I am much kinder to myself now and don't worry about the extra kilos.I'm just glad to be alive and able to enjoy life.Go easy on yourself Julie and then your family will follow your lead.

                                              Tonya xx

I also agree with all the other girls but also know where you are coming from. Just over the last few days I've had so many people say to me I have my bounce back or comments like you didn't smile last year! I must have looked dreadful but no-one was prepared to say anything. The joys of chemo! We  will always have our down times but heay as all the others have said we are still here! Keep positive and try and think of that ever decreasing light at the end of the chemo tunnel.

Take care and try not to be too hard on yourself,

Alison xxx

Hmmm, told my husband of your reactions and, yes, he said he was only being supportive! In my family's defence, I'm the one making the big deal about putting on weight, they didn't say anything until I brought it up.

But I guess what it really means is that I have lost touch with why I'm going through all this, and yes everyone including me needs to realise that I'm still here and that's all that matters!

I think Im just at a low point right now, was keeping on top of it all for the first couple of treatments, but struggling to keep smiling at the moment. Gotta keep that final goal in sight! 

Julie

I'm a bit shocked actually!  I know that your family think they are being supportive and helpful and encouraging about the weight watchers thing etc, however, right now, you are having treatment for cancer and this will be followed by a period of recovery. Frankly, who cares what you look like?  You are here and alive and that's fabulous enough!!!  I have been through this too - most recently last Sunday with my brother who I know was trying to be encouraging but just ended up making me feel even more useless than I already did.  Your energy will return slowly -  one day at a time right now.  Your body will tell you what it needs - ice-cream to soothe the ulcers, sugar and starch for energy and bacon..... YUM!. As long as you (and your doctor) are comfortable with the way your body is functioning during its onslaught of chemicals. Sometimes, just being able to eat is a bonus.  And I had just decided, before reading your blog, that dinner tonight will be icecream for me. Why?  Because I feel like it.

:)

I too have this problem!  I lost weight initially when I was on my first round of chemo AC but then as soon as I began Taxol/herceptin it started to creep back on again - ideally I'd like to be 5 kgs lighter but I'm still having herceptin 3 weekly until Oct and also I just started taking Tamoxifen of which weight gain is a known side effect!! Can't win!!! Walking takes on a whole new meaning - many power walks! I'm also still having radiotherapy until 16th March. Not must spare time to squeeze in the walks. ( also working full time! Keeps my mind off things!)

By the way  are you from WA? You look so familiar. Ever lived in Kalgoorlie?

Good  luck with your treatment and blog away! This is such a great site.

Take care

Love Alison xxx