Constant hunger between chemo infusions?

[LMighty]

Anybody feels hungry all the time after chemo infusions? Almost one month in with Irinotecan + Erbitux, my mom feels in need for food much more frequently than before. It's not like she feels starving all the time, but if she haven't eaten for more than 2 hours, she will feel tired quickly. She feels almost instantly energized right after eating something.

[Lee]

I can't say that I felt hungry all the time, as after a while, most food takes on a cardboard matallic taste. What I did learn, keeping food in my stomach did keep nausea at bay. Thus I ate several small meals vs 3 meals a day. Butt I will admit, I did gain some weight while on chemo. I ate mostly junk food cause I could taste it.

If she is craving food, by all means eat. Her body is telling her something.

Lee

[CRguy]

Could be as a result of medications, corticosteroids in particular, altering her blood glucose levels / insulin response ???

she would likely get some kind of steroid before / with chemo ?
if so, maybe her doc should check blood glucose and HgbA1c levels to see if she is having "diabetic like" issues with the steroids.

Read some posts here by MIssMolly who has noted a number of issues with the steroids used for chemo patients.
She has posted some good info.

Best wishes
CRguy

[LMighty]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies. Pretty sure the anti-allergy shot before the chemo infusion contains steroid. Not sure if the effect could last for more than a week though! My mom was not given any other drug that contains steroid.

I will check out MissMolly's posts. Thank you so much

Best
Lawrence