After chemo weight lose advice

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Beckster
Posts: 438
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:01 pm
Location: New Jersey

After chemo weight lose advice

Postby Beckster » Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:31 am

Hi everyone!

Thought I would seek your wisdom and advice. When I first started chemo, I had lost a little weight due to stress and anxiety. During my 6 months on chemo, I gained 10 pounds. Being on Xeloda made me always feel hungry and my onc said to eat whatever I want.....poor advice. I ate anything and everything! If I lost a pound in between visits, he would question. I was afraid to lose any weight. After chemo, I explained that I am the heaviest I have been in the last 5 years. He said I could lose some weight, but I had to do it on a healthy diet. I really need to lose more than the 10 pounds I put on to put me in a normal BMI range. 15 pounds is the goal....

Has anyone had their onc tell them not to lose weight or has anyone gained weight during chemo and lost it after treatment? Just seeking some advice on how to accomplish this goal without pissing him off :roll: ! I have lost 4 pounds so far in 4 weeks and walk 2.5 miles every morning.

Beckster
57/F
DX:(CC) 10/19/16
11/4/16- Lap right hemi(cecum)
CEA- Pre Op (1.9), Pre Chemo (2.5)
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Tumor size:3.5 cm x 2.5 x 0.7 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N0M0/IIA
LN: 0/24
LVI present
Surgical margins: clear
MSS
12/27/2016 - Capeox, anaphylactic
1/2/17 to 6/9/17- Xeloda
6/17,12/17,6/18,12/18,6/19,12/19,12/20,12/21 CT Scan NED :D
CEA- 6/17- 3.6, 9/17- 2.8 12/17-2.8, 3/18-3.1, 6/18-3.0, 9/18 2.8, 12/18 2.5 3/19 3.1 6/19 3.1 9/19 2.6 12/19 2.8 6/20 3.0 12/20 2.7 6/21 2.9,[color=#000000]12/21 2.7[/color]
Clear Colonoscopy 10/17, 11/19,11/21 :D

mozart13
Posts: 158
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2016 7:38 pm
Location: Toronto

Re: After chemo weight lose advice

Postby mozart13 » Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:11 pm

I just finished 7th round of folfox, gained 6 kg so far, expecting more to come by the time this is over.
Didnt disscuss this issue with my oncologist, was expecting this to happen by reading other people posts.
Not eating as much as used to, not very active now, get tired very fast, to boost my energy level have to eat something, so there is my recepie for gaining wait, not overlly concern about it, will get it under controll once this is over.
Cant wait to be able to swim, hiking, skiing, bikeing and get to gym.
Dreaming of vacation down on Varadero beach, love that beach, had to cancell last years dec. vacation due to start of therapy.
My plan is to once this is over , to take 4-6 weeks off to recover from this bruttall therapy, do few more tests, loose some weight, and return back to work actually I miss my work, more people than anything else, love my social club.
And I am eating like you, what ever I like, biggest problem is taste, but it doesnt seem to be stopping me from eating, LOL.
55 year at the time of diagnosis, male
Diagnosed with T1,T2 N0 M0 rectal cancer
Total neoadjuvant therapy or TNT (chemoradiation followed by systemic chemotherapy)
Negative since Feb. '17
No surgery
Watch&Wait approach 8)
I don’t come much to the forum , so if this is not updated it means I remain negative!
Wish good luck to all!

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: After chemo weight lose advice

Postby Lee » Wed Aug 09, 2017 2:13 pm

Beckster wrote:Hi everyone!

Has anyone had their onc tell them not to lose weight or has anyone gained weight during chemo and lost it after treatment? Just seeking some advice on how to accomplish this goal without pissing him off :roll: ! I have lost 4 pounds so far in 4 weeks and walk 2.5 miles every morning.

Beckster


YESSS :D Like you I was losing weight early on in my diagnoses, stress of being diagnosed with cancer. I told my Onc on day one, I would do everything she asked of me to the best of my ability, just get me through this. So a fews weeks in, I'm still losing weigh, she told me not to lose one more pound, I did everything I could to stop losing weight, and I did not lose anymore weight. Like you, during chemo, I gained weight. Following chemo, I continued to gain weight. Just a few pound per visit, butt an upward trend. I wanted to lose that weight, butt was told I could maintain, butt NO on losing weight. It would be 3 1/2 years when I was finally given the okay to lose weight, butt it had to come off slowing. If there was a rapid weigh loss, she was going to be looking for cancer. Thus I joined Weight Watchers and am still a member today. I struggle with my weight today, still about 10 over what I was when diagnosed, butt back with in a normal range. I don't think I will ever get back to my precancer weight as much as I would love to.

For what it's worth, I was 3 years out when a couple of nodes were enlarged in my stomach area on a CAT scan. Onc stressed to me she was not worried and I was not to worry about it either. Because I was still gaining weight, she felt it was probably some infection my body was fighting off. 6 months later, those nodes were back to normal and I was given the okay to lose weight.

Hope this helps,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: After chemo weight lose advice

Postby NHMike » Wed Aug 09, 2017 7:01 pm

I dropped ten pounds in two weeks after diagnosis but docs said not to try to lose weight through chemo/surgery/chemo so I've worked on maintaining weight. The problem is that "healthy" foods cause me GI problems and the nutritionist indicated that that might happen. So simple carbs are easier on the GI system than nuts, whole grains, vegetables, etc. I do try to get in some whole grains and vegetables though.

I also am working on getting in some exercise every day. It's much less than I'm used to doing and some of that is less time for working out and some is due to staying out of gyms when there are people there to avoid infections. I just cleared out some space in the basement to use my barbell set and I ran a bit over a mile early this morning on the treadmill at the office. So I try to be careful with food though it is difficult and I try to get in at least a little exercise everyday.

I also want to beef up my core for the surgery to make recovery less difficult. My goal weight is 10 pounds below where it is right now but I'm comfortable with where it is right now. Tomorrow I'll hit tennis balls for 30 minutes and I look forward to that.

I do think that you shouldn't diet while on chemo or waiting for surgery but I also think that you shouldn't pack on the pounds if you're already overweight. I use an online calorie tracker and weigh myself a few times a week to make sure I'm not going too much on the calories.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

Volfan
Posts: 73
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 7:58 am

Re: After chemo weight lose advice

Postby Volfan » Wed Aug 09, 2017 8:26 pm

This topic actually came up at my last doctor appointment. The nurse commented that I had gained two pounds. I mentioned that I need to start watching my weight. The nurse made it real clear not to consider trying to lose any weight. Now I'm still getting chemo so that might be why. The nurse reminded me that I had got down to 137 from 160 in about 6 weeks time.
I'm back at 160 but now it's not slowing down but the nurse said don't worry about it right now.
Stage IV Rectal cancer with liver mets
Oxaliplatin, avastin, 5fu
48 yr dude

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: After chemo weight lose advice

Postby NHMike » Fri Aug 11, 2017 6:16 am

Volfan wrote:This topic actually came up at my last doctor appointment. The nurse commented that I had gained two pounds. I mentioned that I need to start watching my weight. The nurse made it real clear not to consider trying to lose any weight. Now I'm still getting chemo so that might be why. The nurse reminded me that I had got down to 137 from 160 in about 6 weeks time.
I'm back at 160 but now it's not slowing down but the nurse said don't worry about it right now.


That's a pretty extreme weight loss and I'd expect the body to try to regain the 160 pounds aggressively if it has the nutrition available.

Must have been a bit of work finding clothes that fit when you dropped the weight.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

Beckster
Posts: 438
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:01 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: After chemo weight lose advice

Postby Beckster » Fri Aug 11, 2017 7:00 am

YESSS :D Like you I was losing weight early on in my diagnoses, stress of being diagnosed with cancer.

Lee[/quote][quote="NHMike"]I dropped ten pounds in two weeks after diagnosis but docs said not to try to lose weight through chemo/surgery/chemo so I've worked on maintaining weight.


I find it humorous that oncologist's question weight loss after diagnosis. When I went for my first appt, he questioned my weight loss, so I looked him straight in the eye and said, "Let someone tell you that you have cancer and lets see if you feel like eating!" He did not know what to say and my husband, who knows my Italian temper, almost fell off the chair! :D :shock:
57/F
DX:(CC) 10/19/16
11/4/16- Lap right hemi(cecum)
CEA- Pre Op (1.9), Pre Chemo (2.5)
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Tumor size:3.5 cm x 2.5 x 0.7 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N0M0/IIA
LN: 0/24
LVI present
Surgical margins: clear
MSS
12/27/2016 - Capeox, anaphylactic
1/2/17 to 6/9/17- Xeloda
6/17,12/17,6/18,12/18,6/19,12/19,12/20,12/21 CT Scan NED :D
CEA- 6/17- 3.6, 9/17- 2.8 12/17-2.8, 3/18-3.1, 6/18-3.0, 9/18 2.8, 12/18 2.5 3/19 3.1 6/19 3.1 9/19 2.6 12/19 2.8 6/20 3.0 12/20 2.7 6/21 2.9,[color=#000000]12/21 2.7[/color]
Clear Colonoscopy 10/17, 11/19,11/21 :D

Volfan
Posts: 73
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 7:58 am

Re: After chemo weight lose advice

Postby Volfan » Fri Aug 11, 2017 7:28 am

Beckster wrote:YESSS :D Like you I was losing weight early on in my diagnoses, stress of being diagnosed with cancer.

Lee
NHMike wrote:I dropped ten pounds in two weeks after diagnosis but docs said not to try to lose weight through chemo/surgery/chemo so I've worked on maintaining weight.


I find it humorous that oncologist's question weight loss after diagnosis. When I went for my first appt, he questioned my weight loss, so I looked him straight in the eye and said, "Let someone tell you that you have cancer and lets see if you feel like eating!" He did not know what to say and my husband, who knows my Italian temper, almost fell off the chair! :D :shock:


That is great. I love it.
Stage IV Rectal cancer with liver mets
Oxaliplatin, avastin, 5fu
48 yr dude


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