Putting weight on during chemo

[gemanjon]

I'm currently having chemo for breast cancer, and in the midst of all the horribleness of diagnosis and surgery and losing my hair I couldn't help but think "at least I'll lose a bit of weight".

I know, it's not the thing to think about but I've always been at the very top end of healthy on the BMI scale and the last year or 2 it's slowly crept into the overweight range.
I thought it might be the only silver lining in a rubbish year.

Turns out it's the opposite, I am at least a kilo heavier every chemo session weigh in, every 2 weeks!
In the beginning I blamed the steroids, I was just so hungry all the time. But now I'm only having one lot of IV steroids and appetite has gone back to normal, and it's still going on at a rate.

Everyone I speak to about it says it's great I have an appetite and not to worry, plenty of time to lose it later etc.
While of course I know they're right it's hard not to worry, after I finish this treatment I have radiotherapy then 5 years of hormone therapy with ovarian suppression which will put me into an chemical menopause and I know it's likely to be much harder to lose weight then.

Anyone else in the same situation? Id love to hear I'm not alone!

I'm the same, I put on a stone during chemo, I know it's very frustrating! It's not just the steroid induced hunger, if you are anything like I was you aren't actually doing much so not burning as many calories. I've lost 4 pounds since finishing chemo, so it can be done it just takes a bit longer. Try not to be too hard on yourself - your body is essentially being poisoned and recovering from that takes time. best of luck with your treatment xx

I put on a little during chemo - about 2kg, but it soon came off afterwards.

As soon as I started running again. Don't rush, wait until chemo is over and then make healthy choices over food.

I found after chemo, anything with processed sugar in made my mouth sore so I naturally stopped eating sweet stuff and ate more salad/veg/protein which helped.

Wait and see how you feel. Rebuilding your immune system is much more important than losing a few pounds at this stage.

Thanks
It's good to hear it's not just me, and that it can come off again afterwards, I think it's just not something I was expecting at all.
Its fine when I'm at home wearing joggers and big jumpers but on the odd occasion I make it out for dinner and have to put on nice clothes it's really disheartening trying to find something that still fits!

Just wanted to send you all the best. Chemo is shit and putting weight on just makes you feel even worse. I had exactly the same. I've struggled to lose it due to back pain, but honestly am happy with myself for the most part. Your body is fighting all that shit they pump in and it does what it can to help fight through, you are also probably not as active as usual. You will get through this and can then start to focus on feeling healthier. Take care and one day at a time

Just wanted to wish you all the best, chemo and steroids are horrid but they do end. I had always been normal bmi and got to end of cancer treatment top end of normal but then stopped weighing myself and started hormone treatment which with chemo was in menopause and then got called to hospital and 14kgs up a year or so later. But I lost it all, and have flat stomach again 2 years after stopping treatment and also exercise 5 hours per week. Had to do 1200 calorie diet plus eating exercise calories but felt so much better for it.

I could have written your post, I too thought that was the only silver lining in this shit show and then I’ve bloody well gained 5kg. I finished chemo a month ago and am starting radiotherapy soon. I’ve stopped weighing myself and think I’ll get back on top of this when I’m out the other side of this process. My body doesn’t need to be dieting while this is going on. Best of luck to you, it’s a hard road we’re on xx

I have the opposite. I have had secondary bc for almost 7 years. Had radiotherapy in January and now on iv chemo which was weekly but has just moved to fortnightly. I’ve gone from 67kg at the start of this year to 50kg now.