Hello! Weight loss and tiredness on Chemotherapy

Morning 

Just going to pop this thread back to the top so others will be able to help you .

My mum lost three stones between chemos and surgeries.  She ended up 71/2 stones . However once chemo stopped she noticed a change in both her energies and aversion to food ! Interesting enough whilst the weight dropped off her and her appetite returning it took the best part of a year to start some visible weight gain again.  All did eventually level off again .

She slept a lot but from an observation point of view fluid intake was as difficult for her as food so I think it had a large part to play . She had a few hospital admissions where they gave her a few bags of fluids and made quite a difference.

Are you able to keep your fluids up ?

take care ,

Court 

Hi Louis5656

i was diagnosed with rectal cancer in December 2020 and after a colostomy went straight into 4 cycles of Capox. I too lost weight very quickly, it was actually quite frightening. I lost one and a half stone during the first 2 cycles,  because I completely lose my appetite and found it difficult to face any food at all. I was also told that the chemo eats any protein going. BUT within a few weeks of finishing the last cycle, my appetite started to return, most of my tastebuds came back (it took a long time to fancy coffee again, and I still can’t eat chocolate!) and the weight went straight back on over a couple of months. I was eating sensibly - I just think my body was hanging on to every calorie it could get. I am now back at the weight I was before. 

I feel for you re the tiredness. Eventually I just gave into it, which sometimes meant a morning and afternoon nap, sometimes napping on and off all day,  and sometimes I just had to go to bed at 6pm. I kept up with small walks everyday and I like to think that helped. My stamina is coming back - not there yet, but hugely improved from when I was on chemo and it is getting better every day. I still sneak the odd afternoon doze in, but not every day. My advice would be go with the flow and do what your body is asking. It will get better. 
You have nearly finished - hurray! Well done! I hope you start to feel more your usual self as soon as possible. Best of luck xx

Hi Court, thanks for your reply. It's good to know that your mum is back on track, weight wise. I noticed that I was not drinking enough so I now make sure that I drink an adequate amount. Thanks for the information, it really helps!

Glad you have managed to increase your fluids . It’s amazing the difference it can make . Better than having to go into hospital and get it through an IV . 
Take care and hope you feel lots better soon !

Court 

hI louis , I suffered with fatigue as well, but once chemo finished I was back to normal energy levels surprisingly quickly ( couple of weeks) re the weight loss, treat your self once you finish chemo and eat crap for a couple of weeks!

I am 3 years in remission and aged 60 now. I am a type A character. The chemo/radio not sure which or maybe both left me very tired and I would estimate it took at least two years for me to get over it. When I say over it by that I mean I need daily naps, sometimes two to get through the day, so part of me thinks it might be age catching up.  I didn't loose weight though. To help restore my energy levels I started taking Vitamin B12, as my levels were rock bottom, but then I piled on the weight. I have discovered that when your immune system is fighting your B12 can drop drastically, worth checking, especially if you have gastric reflux as the medication used to treat that can stop the natural absorption of B12. TBH I am not sure my energy levels will ever get back to what they were, but I keep pushing and find different challenges albeit not as hard as they use to be.

Thanks for the advice Dom! I was thinking of getting a Chinese take-away (I normally avoid that sort of stuff) so I'll probably get one tomorrow! The problem is that I can't taste much but the take-away might do the trick!

Thanks for the feedback Barry. I have heard that it takes some time to get over the effects...but two years! I'm not expecting that.

Thanks Veggie Lady!

What I have learned in my journey is that it affects people in different ways and everyone is different. I was expecting to be over it a lot quicker too.