Chemo and weight gain

Hi OMGOMG

I've had 3 sessions of EC and 5 sessions of Paclitaxel and my weight is the same now as it was when I started. I haven't had any change to how much I want to eat either. I did find on EC that my taste buds were affected, and certain foods tasted very bland.

Just to add, and I know I've been very fortunate and I hope I'm not tempting fate, but the only major side effect I've had is losing my hair.

x

Thanks for sharing Latchbrook - makes me feel a bit more optimistic 

fingers crossed for you too xx 

This is not true in my experience. I had EC followed by docetaxel. The EC made me feel quite nauseous (I had to have stronger anti-sickness meds as I did actually vomit the first cycle). I had to force myself to eat. That meant I cut out all the extra stuff I usually eat - crisps, chocolate etc, as I didn't feel like any of it, and also couldn't finish the food I did ate, so smaller portions. I didn't drink alcohol for the whole of chemo as I didn't want to over-tax my liver (plus, I didn't feel like it). All that meant I lost weight on EC.

However, I gained a lot of water weight on docetaxel. Everything puffed up but I knew it was just water as my feet were really puffy, I couldn't get my rings off, my face looked different. That took a long time to go down again, but it wasn't weight gain, it was water retention.

I think it depends on the person. I lost loads of weight. I was told to pay attention to my protein intake - to eat a bit at every meal and snack on things with high protein content like nuts, humus etc. Of course I had to eat all the other food groups too. I felt so tired that I forgot to eat and my taste buds changed with EC but not so much with paclitaxel. Sometimes I was tired because I had not eaten. I think it is worth being aware that your weight can change, but I'd concentrate more on eating the right sort of food when you can. Sometimes you just have to eat what takes your fancy and that is fine too. Don't be too scared and you never know - some of the side effects for others may not be the same for you. I think the anticipation of the first one was hardest for me. Once I knew what I was dealing with, I got in to a rhythm with it. Exercise helps with the tiredness - try to get out for a walk in the fresh air each day, even its a mega short one! You can cold cap if hair loss is a big worry - it works for about 40 percent of people I think. I had to take the steroids - am not sure what they do - if they are antisickness, antiinflammatory or form part of the chemo. You can ask if you can take a lower dose but I dont know what the answer would be. I think the steroids disrupt your sleep cycle which is one of the reasons for being tired -I found sleeping as and when, day or night, and not being bothered by watching box sets in the night helped - I had to accept what I could not change and go with the flow. Wishing you good luck for your chemo. i read Liz O'Riordan's book - the complete guide to breast cancer - there were lots of tips in there on what you can do if, and what to expect in chemo. It depends how much you want to know. 

Take a sweet to suck for your EC - the cyclophosphamide gives an unusual taste as it goes in, which quickly passes. And the steroids, if pushed in through your cannula or PICC line fast makes it feel like you are sitting on a prickly cushion temporarily. I'd invest in some hypomellose eye drops too- they cost about a pound in the pharmacy. You are likely to have drier eyes than usual and these really help with that feeling. And treat yourself to some lovely sunglasses so that the wind doesn't bother your eyes. 

Wishing you all the very best for your chemo xx

Thank you for sharing your experience - gives me a little hope.

I know weight gain seems trivial compared to everything else - main focus is definitely getting rid of the cancer and getting through the chemo, it’s already been a very tough journey, had a SMX, DIEP and node clearance. And during my journey my mum has also been diagnosed with breast cancer.. so been challenging  !! 

however didn’t want to come out of chemo with a weight issue as I have worked very hard pre diagnosis to shift a lot of weight.. It was my dietician who said it would be exceptional if I didn’t put on any weight !! 

let’s see what happens I suppose but really appreciate your reply, alleviates some  of the fear 

Weight gain is definitely not trivial, if you work hard on yourself, gaining up to 7 lbs taking months to shift.

I had 4 x EC and after the first few days with the steroids I literally sat in the fridge and ate! After day 3 the cravings stopped. I made sure I carried on at the gym or instead would go on walks. I maintained my weight after the EC as I knew the pattern, I did not really have any other side effects except small things I could cope with. My Paclitaxol started 9 wks ago and that has definitely bloated me.

I am trying to do my exercises at the gym and about 2 wks ago I got a trapped nerve in my back that stopped all my exercise, I am much better now and  have started my walks again. I have been really careful with my diet trying not to eat rubbish  high calorific foods. I have now put on about 5 lbs but I am trying all the time to eat well.

Your dietitian sounds very negative, you can definitely do this. I am determined to be my original weight at the end of this journey or just a couple of lbs over. Don't feel guilty about wanting to stay fit.

Unbelievably listening to your story my mum too was diagnosed with breast cancer during my journey. Yes how absolutely bloody awful!!!

I’m so sorry your mum is going through the same thing!

I had a diep & starting ec chemo soon too.  I will be having it every 2 weeks which worries me a bit in terms of coping with side effects

I lost a lot of weight in my precancer life and am now very active & dreading not having energy to get out and about & piling on the pounds again. Hopefully I will be ok with it all - good luck to you too! 

I don't think weight gain is trivial, any more than hair loss or any of the other side effects. All these things can affect our self esteem and its not easy to lose weight, or in my case regain it. It sounds like you are going through an extra tough time with your mum being diagnosed too. I tried to tell myself that my chemo was an investment in a better future without cancer. I think that helped me get through it. Along with probably reading far too much so I was prepared for everything chemo could throw at me, at least as best as I could be. I really hope your chemo is OK for you x

Thank you for all the detailed advice and all the tips , always good to be aware of the possibilities and more than likely I will refer back to all these points as it is information overload at the moment !!

 think I just need to stop stressing and wait and see what happens .. fingers crossed I won’t get too many harsh symptoms. 

Have you now finished chemo ? Where are you in your journey ? Hope all is going smoothly for you 

Thanks .. yes mum is having a lumpectomy and SLNB .. hoping they get clear margins first time and no node involvement .. she is 80 and don’t think she can sustain all that much. 

I had the same .. SMX , DIEP and node clearance. However DIEP incision got infected so delayed the process . 

I am also having my chemo fortnightly .. which means that it will take 4 months instead of 6 which is the positive I am taking from it .. fingers crossed  things go well for us all and we also don’t struggle with weight issues