Weight

[pantufla]

I know what studies say, but I am more interested in your guys' experience. DH is 100 pounds overweight. Does weight really play a role in recurrence?

[Lee]

My understand being overweight puts you at a "higher" risk for developing certain cancers and other medical issues like diabetes. Not sure how it plays a roles with recurrences. My assumption (coming from a non medical person), it probably does not help being overweight.

I was not overweight when I was diagnosed.

Lee

[kiwiinoz]

Hi Pantufla,

I'll preface this message that I am 5'8" and 120 lbs so I have not been in your husbands situation. I don't pretend to understand how hard it is to loose that much weight or what challenges he has on his day to day life.
My view and reading on what I could do to avoid a recurrence all seemed to be on:

Diet
Exercise
Luck / Genetics

You can't do anything with your genetics so after you remove that you are left with only 2 factors you can control being diet and exercise. I assume you and your husband can sort out the diet part but for me the exercise part was crucial for two reasons:

1) It seems to reduce your chances, especially as a stage III patient, by over more than 50%
2) It helped me cope with the mental side of cancer a lot better

Exercise can be as simple as a 30 minute walk once a day. Seems like a small thing to do if it gives you a 50% better chance of avoiding recurrence right?

Kiwi

[weisssoccermom]

I'm overweight but not by that much and I have been cancer free now for over 11 years. I'm not saying your hubs shouldn't try to lose that weight but please have him do it slowly or he will just get frustrated with what he perceives to be a lack of progress.

My opinion is that IF a person is going to have a recurrence, it is going to happen no matter what you do. I've been on this board for over 11 years and there have been people who have exercised, did all the supposedly healthy juicing, gave up eating meat, etc. and yet they still had a recurrence. Losing some of that weight....cancer or not....is a smart move BUT....remember that he went through a lot to get to this stage and the last thing he needs to hear is that he can't eat this or that....he must exercise like a fiend, or eat things that he doesn't like.

[Jannine]

I also have not been there. But from what I've read, just getting daily exercise in the form of a walk has a significant protective effect against colon cancer. I would think that focusing more on getting a reasonable amount of exercise (in the form of a daily walk or something else; it does not have to be high impact aerobic activity) could be more helpful than focusing on losing weight.

[Utwo]

You need to be able to see all pros and cons.

Having a bit of extra kilos or pounds is beneficial in case of any complication when you are required to fast.
You can find quite a few posts in this forum by people who are concerned about their low weight.

[AppleTree]

I am very underweight at 5'8" and 105 pounds.

I live with my sister, her husband and my 15 year old son. My sister has 2 small dogs. All through chemo and every day now that I am done with chemo, we walk the dogs. Our local park has a 1 mile loop. We are slow, but we do it. Nothing like a dog, walking buddy or group to get you out there walking.

Instead of thinking weight loss, you might want to consider the dietitian at the hospital. I know that mine has given me lots of tips on how to add more protein to my diet. So far I have gained 2 pounds, so it is working. I think it is more about learning how to slowly get to a healthy weight (gaining or loosing) and following those routines and realizing that the weight situation did not happen overnight so can not be fixed overnight. Also, it is possible that your husband is on medication that makes him gain weight. A trained dietitian will take this into considerstion.

[Punky44]

I don’t mean to hijack this thread but I am concerned for my mom for the opposite reason—she has always been super thin and currently weighs 113 and is about to start chemo. What can she do diet wise? Do thin people have a harder time on chemo? AppleTree, what’s been your experience?

[NHMike]

I dropped 75 pounds over several years many years ago. I've always been active but I put on weight over the years and then decided to take the pounds off. It was quite difficult in the context of a high-stress job and raising a family. It is a fantastic feeling taking the weight off and improving fitness. But it takes considerable effort and support. Some people can do it on their own in the right circumstances. Most people probably do better with some kind of support system along with knowing how to do it. I have run into people that know how to do it but they don't do it. They know everything that I do - they just don't execute.

I'd suggest to your husband that he should take the weight off for better quality of life. If it reduces his odds of avoiding a recurrence, so much the better. One thing that I've also learned is that you can't make someone else lose weight, or exercise or watch their nutrition. They have to want it badly enough to make their own changes. You can support them in this area though.

I think that there's already a good amount of literature out there on the process.

On exercise intensity - I'd recommend an exercise to get your heartrate up. I like running but there are lots of other exercises that do this as well. This can reduce your overall stress levels while making your cardiovascular system stronger - so that things that you deal with aren't stressful because your heart has much greater capacity.

[AppleTree]

Punky44 - it would not hurt for your Mom to meet with the dietitian at the hospital. There is 113 pounds on tall people and shorter people. There is 113 on big boned people and 113 on small boned people. For me, I am seriously underweight for my build. I eat a low fiber diet. No raw vegetables. All my fruits are canned/cooked. I drink protein smoothies made with hemp milk (extra protein) and banana. I put hemp seeds in my cereal. I put extra powdered milk into my soups. Anything for an extra boost. I eat about every 2 hours a snack...rice cake with peanut butter, canned peaches, a banana..things like that. Snacks. Snacks, snacks seem to worst best for me. The main reason for my dramatic weight loss was the removal of my rectum and parts of my colon...as a result I have extreme diarrhea most days. After my bigger evening meal, I lie down right away and try to get gravity to help keep it in long enough for my body to get nutrients. Some days I have no issues. Other days are not so good. I eat alot of chicken and cheeseburgers because that is what I seem to have the best luck with.

Keep a log and you will start to see patterns. Your Mom might be just fine. We all are so different and each chemo different too. I had the diarrhea before chemo, but probably as a side effect from several operations altogether. Now my oncologist is telling me to be patient and see how I am doing 8 months after chemo. I have not ruled out a permanent bag.

But, yes - try to see the cancer dietitian as her treatment progresses and you notice any issues. The American cancer society puts out some great little booklets about what to eat depending on how you are feeling. They are free.

[Punky44]

Thank you so much, we will check into that!

[Lee]

Weight Watcher's is also a good choice, to lose weight and believe it or not to possible gain weight. They push healthy eating along with a support system, weekly meeting or more often if you need it.

Lee

[Nohogirl]

Weight watchers is great. They don't offer any of the chemical filled prepackaged foods other weight loss programs offer. Their app is very helpful and user friendly. They encourage you to eat more healthy and lean.