Post-chemo weight gain

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tzonni
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu May 01, 2014 1:49 am

Post-chemo weight gain

Postby tzonni » Mon Dec 08, 2014 2:59 pm

Hi All

Ive been an avid reader of this group since being diagnosed with Colon Cancer in March 2014.

Its been a battle ever since that day. I did my sigmoid colectomy in April 2014 (diagnosed Stage IIIa) and then did my chemo from May to November. The drugs of choice were the classic Xeloda and Oxaliplatin.

In the interim I developed:

- A pulmonary embolism from the Chemo (I am on warfarin)
- A large incisional hernia
- Hand and Foot syndrome (suffer from terrible finger numbness and feet feel like concrete).

I also picked up a superbug in hospital in September (C-Diff) and had anaphlactic shock on my last dose of oxaliplatin.

The problem I have now is i cant exercise much whilst im trying to get rid of the Embolism and at the same time my body feels out of whack and I not really able to lose weight.. In fact I keep putting on weight. Since I had my operation I put on 20Kilograms (44 pounds)!!!

Apparently the chemo and steroids they gave me during chemo are still in my body and are causing these problems.

Has anyone else experienced weight gain post chemo? I am starting to feel abnormal.

Can anyone offer me any advice?

Many Thanks
Tzonni

Redtexa5
Posts: 181
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:41 pm
Location: Austin, Texas

Re: Post-chemo weight gain

Postby Redtexa5 » Mon Dec 08, 2014 3:20 pm

Just about everyone I have ever talked to who has been on Chemo for what ever cancer, not just Colon Cancer, has gone through the post chemo weight gain. I did so no you are not abnormal. Sorry no weight loss tips from me, wish I had them.
Start of symptoms 9/08
Dx Stage IIIc/IV CC 2/09
T4bNxM0
Colostomy 2/09
Radiation/5FU 3/09-5/09
FOLFOX 6 6/09-8/09
9/09 Tumor removed Colostomy reversed
10/09-1/10 FOLFOX 6
3/10-2/15 NED
2/14 Colonoscopy NED
2/15 Colonoscopy NED
6/15 PET/CT NED
2/17 7 years NED

Dori W
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 2:30 pm
Facebook Username: Dori Woodhouse

Re: Post-chemo weight gain

Postby Dori W » Mon Dec 08, 2014 3:37 pm

I also gained about 50 pounds post-chemo. I wish I had some good advice. I strive to eat less sugar and to exercise more, with mixed success. All I can do is keep trying. I've always been prone to stress eating and I was overweight before cancer. The stress of the cancer diagnosis and treatment and surgical menopause (in my case), on top of the possible metabolic effects of chemo and steroids can really do a number on us.

Best wishes to you!
Diagnosed stage 3C signet ring colon cancer in May, 2008
14 out of 18 positive lymph nodes
Final treatment in November, 2008
NED ever since
I used to have an account under "Dori," but I've lost access to it.
You can view my old posts here: search.php?author_id=1446&sr=posts

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singingholly
Posts: 1133
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:37 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: Post-chemo weight gain

Postby singingholly » Mon Dec 08, 2014 4:06 pm

I have so similar issues! And yes, even gain weight. No solution to suggest I'm afraid...
Dec2011 sigm IIIst res T3N1(2/18)M0 Xelox
Oct2012 5liv.mets Dec 2012 liv.res
Jan2013 1liv.met Folfiri+avastin
Jul2013 liv.res Folfiri+/av
Feb2014 10+2lu.mets & 1abd node Folfoxiri+SBRT
Sep2014 Res rx l. BUT spot on diaph:SBRT
Dec2014 3+6lu.mets.Immuno

Valorie
Posts: 365
Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 6:33 am

Re: Post-chemo weight gain

Postby Valorie » Mon Dec 08, 2014 4:08 pm

Do you have access to a swimming pool. Swimming or water exercise puts less strain on your body but is great exercise. If you don't swim, you can still use the water for resistance exercise. If you live in or near a bigger city you may be able to contact cancer support organizations and ask for a referral to yoga classes specifically geared for those on chemo or have lingering side effects from chemo. I'm sorry you've had such a rough time during your journey. I hope that things will get better for you.

Valorie
Age 53 dx 2a CC 0/21 LN Oncotypedx score: 11
Sigmoidectomy 5/8/14
MSS No lymphovasular involvement,
6/14 PET - NED, 12/14 CT NED, 7/15 CT - NED
6/14-12/9/14 Xeloda 8 cycles
2/12/15 incisional hernia repair - Boooo!

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azahar
Posts: 275
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:49 am
Facebook Username: shawn.hennessey
Location: Seville, Spain
Contact:

Re: Post-chemo weight gain

Postby azahar » Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:08 pm

Wow, I also had an anaphlactic shock response to my next-to-last oxaliplatin infusion - so I didn't end up doing the last one.

Yes, drugs and all that played havoc with my thyroid and I put on weight, have struggled to get it off again. Though if I'm honest, I haven't struggled that much, just mostly GOT FAT and stayed there. Oh, and I also have a post-op hernia that limits certain kinds of exercise. Unless your doctor thinks your weight gain is a health risk perhaps it's not worth stressing over right now?
DX stage IV May / 08
colon resection May/08
Oxi & Xeloda July/Aug/08
open & close Sept/08, peritoneal mets
liver resection Nov/08
6 rounds Oxi/Xeloda Apr-July/09
NED? so far so good...
http://azahar.wordpress.com/ & http://twitter.com/azahar

tzonni
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu May 01, 2014 1:49 am

Re: Post-chemo weight gain

Postby tzonni » Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:27 pm

Thank you for all the responses so far. It's nice to know I'm not alone and hence why I keep coming back to this group so much.

It really was a massive help for me to be part of this amazing forum.


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