Weight gain post surgeries

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Maelleous
Posts: 127
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 8:13 am
Location: FL

Weight gain post surgeries

Postby Maelleous » Wed Feb 01, 2017 10:51 am

Hi all,

Prior to my rectal resection I weighed about 195lbs (I'm 6''4''), which is about 10lbs more than I had traditionally weighed. I switched to an ultra healthy diet once I suspected I had cancer and exercised super heavily and dropped to about 185 in two months. After the resection I lost about another 10lbs to around 175ish. After my cardiac arrest I am hovering around 160now and have barely gained any weight even though I am eating a fair amount (mostly healthy though so probably not enough calories.) I am finding it difficult to stay healthy and get a good amount of calories. Anyone have any suggestions and how long before you started holding weight after treatments/surgery?
M 35 yr
DX Rectal Cancer, 10/16 (symptoms Feb 2016)
Dx stage 2 - Surgery Oct 25 201 Loop ileo w/ j-pouch
Close margins within 1mm
9/38 lymph nodes involved on path / Stg IIIc,pT4, pN2 B, p.M0. MSS, K‐ras, NRAS, no mutation
Started Folfox - 3rd Treament, Dec 30th 2016 Cardiac Arrest - Lucky to be part of the 6% to survive!
S-ICD installed / Port Removed
Vaccine Clinical trial at UPMC - last shot June 2017
Reversal 8/1/17 - Praying this is it!
Still NED

Utwo
Posts: 285
Joined: Mon May 23, 2016 10:14 am
Location: T.O.

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby Utwo » Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:02 am

It took me half a year to regain my pre-surgery weight.

Forget about "eating healthy" - eat whatever you want. Eating healthy is less important, than regaining your weight.
58 yo male at diagnosis: T1bN0M0, 0/15 nodes, low grade/moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma
03/2016 colonoscopy: 2 small polyps removed in left colon; CEA = 1.3
04/2016 colonoscopy: caecum sessile 3.5 cm polyp piecemeal removed with kind of clear margins
05/2016 "prophylactic" laparoscopic right hemicolectomy - bleeding, leak, infection
06/2017 CT scan, colonoscopy OK; CEA = 1.6
A lot of funny stuff discovered by CT scans in liver, kidney, lungs, arteries, gallbladder, lymph node, pancreas

Maelleous
Posts: 127
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 8:13 am
Location: FL

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby Maelleous » Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:08 am

The only issue with that is that I can't do chemo because of my cardiac arrest so my risk of reoccurrence is higher... worried if I eat like crap I will make my reoccurrence risk even higher. Trying to decide if weight or healthy food is more important. Thanks for the response!
M 35 yr
DX Rectal Cancer, 10/16 (symptoms Feb 2016)
Dx stage 2 - Surgery Oct 25 201 Loop ileo w/ j-pouch
Close margins within 1mm
9/38 lymph nodes involved on path / Stg IIIc,pT4, pN2 B, p.M0. MSS, K‐ras, NRAS, no mutation
Started Folfox - 3rd Treament, Dec 30th 2016 Cardiac Arrest - Lucky to be part of the 6% to survive!
S-ICD installed / Port Removed
Vaccine Clinical trial at UPMC - last shot June 2017
Reversal 8/1/17 - Praying this is it!
Still NED

Utwo
Posts: 285
Joined: Mon May 23, 2016 10:14 am
Location: T.O.

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby Utwo » Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:25 am

My son, a resident, did a bit of research of medical literature on my behalf and told me that there was very small impact (if any) of eating healthy after the diagnosis on a risk of reoccurrence.

Just talk to your doctor and ask the same questions.
Based on my experience with after-surgery complications and weight loss, I believe it's very important to have some extra weight to help you get through potential future complications.
I am 6", was down to 141 lb and was concerned about such low weight.

Bon appetit!
58 yo male at diagnosis: T1bN0M0, 0/15 nodes, low grade/moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma
03/2016 colonoscopy: 2 small polyps removed in left colon; CEA = 1.3
04/2016 colonoscopy: caecum sessile 3.5 cm polyp piecemeal removed with kind of clear margins
05/2016 "prophylactic" laparoscopic right hemicolectomy - bleeding, leak, infection
06/2017 CT scan, colonoscopy OK; CEA = 1.6
A lot of funny stuff discovered by CT scans in liver, kidney, lungs, arteries, gallbladder, lymph node, pancreas

fumaros
Posts: 273
Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2016 10:26 pm
Location: Syracuse, NY
Contact:

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby fumaros » Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:37 pm

I lost a lot of weight after surgery and during the first months of chemo. I have gained it all back now, so time is definitely a factor as your body is healing. I also changed my diet and it took about 4 months before i started to gain weight again. There are foods that are healthy and you can gain weight with such as high fat containing foods like Avocados, and fish with omega 3s like salmon. Cooking your vegetables allows you to consume more of them before you feel full (i know there is a theory that cooking veggies destroys the beneficial nutrients - but this is not the case for most vegetables). High starch - sweet potatoes are also good. Add in a liberal amount of protein - beans, tofu. The more calories you take in more of it you retain.

The fear of recurrence is real for all of us, and unfortunately we have less control over it than we would like so enjoy everyday. Eating a good diet and exercise might not cure cancer but at least you will be healthier overall.
Good luck.
Diagnosed 4/8/16, age 29
Colectomy 4/20/16
Stage III, T4bN1 Tumor 7x6.5x2. Muscinous Adenocarcinoma with SRC features
2/16 lymph nodes
Stage IV, Peri mets 5/2019
CEA 4/14/16 - 16.8
CEA 6/2/16 - 1.9
CEA 6/17/16 - 0.87, 7/16 - 1.33, 12/16 - 1.14, 4/17 - 0.6, 7/17 - 0.5, 10/17 - 0.9, 3/19 -5.8, 4/19 -10
FOLFOX began 6/24/16 - 11/25/16, FOLFIRI - 5/10/19
10 round FOLFOX, 2 round 5-FU & Leucovorin, 1 round FOLFIRI
MRI & CT 8/16 - NED, CT 12/16 - 10/17 - NED

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BeansMama
Posts: 959
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:38 am
Location: North Carolina

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby BeansMama » Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:57 pm

I was "fluffy" to begin with so my doctors aren't as worried about me losing weight, at least my new onc hasn't said anything. I will lose between 4 and 10 pounds between treatments, but I just have no appetite. There are days where I will drink juice and sugared drinks just to keep my blood sugar up because I don't want to eat, sometimes it is days in a row.

My surgeon told me at the beginning of my journey that he didn't care if I got milkshakes every day I needed to get something into my body. But I had at that time not been able to really eat and was malnourished even though I was overweight. He didn't want me losing any more weight.

If weight loss is an issue I wouldn't worry so much about what it is, eat what sounds good. That is what I have to do, especially if I haven't eaten for a few days.

I will keep you in my prayers.
41 yrs old
Tumor found 9/2015
Surgery 1 - 11/2015 LAR and colostomy
Surgery 2 - 11/2015 wound vac
Surgery 3 - 12/2015 revise resection, move colostomy
Mets to liver - tumor inoperable - one add'l met destroyed
Stage IVa (T3 N2a M1a)
Primary tumor 9 cm x 7.5 cm x 2 cm
Beginning Folfox 1/2016 - Failed
Beginning Folfiri and vectibix 8/2016 — Failed
Beginning Folfirinox + Avastin 11/2016 - Failed
Beginning Keytruda 1/2017
CEA drop from 345 to 7.3 after starting immunotherapy
Lynch positive 3/2016

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dianetavegia
Posts: 2731
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:47 pm
Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby dianetavegia » Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:48 pm

Chemo only lowers the chance of recurrence by a very small amount. Oncs are good with 'word games' when they give you the info.
Despite undergoing complete surgical removal of the cancer, half of patients with Stage III colon carcinoma experience recurrence of their cancer. In two large trials, adding FOLFOX increased 3-year disease free survival by 5-7%
http://www.texasoncology.com/types-of-c ... lon-cancer

I thought, 8 years ago, that I was already at 50% chance of no recurrence and that chemo added to that this huge amount, but it really only added a small percentage. Statistics show that 50% of CRC patients have a recurrence, with or without chemo. I did 3 years later, and I did all 12 FOLFOX.

Take care of yourself and don't worry about not doing chemo! Eat what you feel like eating and add some Ensure if you think you need the extra nutrition.

I gained after my surgery and all through chemo. UGH. I'm working on it tho. Almost there!
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

Canada777
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:24 pm

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby Canada777 » Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:56 pm

My bf lost a considerable amount of weight throughout chemo and then surgery. He is slowly starting to put it back on. Ensure Plus Calories helps. We also started swapping out "lower calorie" foods for "higher calorie" ones (i.e. Greek yogurt has more calories; using butter instead of margarine; fatty fish such as Salmon). Regular healthy snacking in between meals helped too (i.e. peanut butter, crackers and cheese etc.). Give your body some time to gain it back.
DH dx. Stage 4 Colon cancer with Peri mets Dec '15 @ age 29
12 Rounds FOLFOX & then successful HIPEC in 2016. Diagnosis changed to appendix cancer.
Recurrence to pelvis 9 months later.
Years of chemo.
At rest. Sept 2021.

teachpdx
Posts: 634
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:29 am
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby teachpdx » Thu Feb 02, 2017 11:01 pm

Its important to make sure you get plenty of protein to help build muscle. Frequently weight loss is related to lack of exercise and muscle atrophy. It's difficult to exercise sometimes if there is pain. I have found that when I exercise I have a better appetite and eat better. It is a slow process and muscle fitness/strength can be very helpful.

You don't have a signature so I don't know how old you are, but healing takes a lot of energy and if you're relatively young I suspect you could be in calorie deficit pretty easily, especially as a male.
4/24/12 RC T3N1M0 age 53
5/23-7/2 - 26 chemorad - Xeloda
7/16 Lynch- MSH2
8/28 LAR w/ temp ileo, CR, 0/11,M0, hysterectomy
10/13 6 cycles Xeloda - completed only 1 1/2 due to HFS
3/12/13 - reversal
8/13 NED
6/15 - HFS gone!

Achilles Torn
Posts: 141
Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2016 2:41 pm

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby Achilles Torn » Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:24 pm

I switched to strict healthy diet. Along with stress and anxiety I went from 195 pounds before surgery to about 170 in a month when I started FOLFOX. I wanted to try fasting during chemo to reduce side effects and dropped to 163. I've since bounced back to over 170 even fasting the second round and am putting weight on.

I eat very healthy but eat a lot ! Mostly Vegetable and fruits but also lots of beans, wild salmon, organic chicken/eggs, and some VEGA plant based protein powder in morning shakes. I try to hit 10k per day light jog/walk.

I figure eating healthy won't cure my cancer. BUTT keeping my body as healthy and strong as possible for my blood work and immune system has to be a good thing and would be whether I go through chemo or not.
Diagnosed as 40 yo Male. BC Canada. Sigmoid Colectomy Dec. 2016
Pathology T3N2bM1 19 of 24 Nodes Positive + tumour deposits
PET scan - Para-Aortic and Iliac Lymph node spread. Stage VI.
Moderately differentiated. MSS. KRAS/BRAF Wild.
Mutations: TP53, ERBB4, MLL3, PDCD1LG2, PRKDC, SMAD3
FOLFOX + Bevacizumab Commenced Jan 9/2017 PET Scan July 2017 - on maintenance 5FU/Bev every 2 weeks.
Progression after Covid19 induced break June 2020. Resume Maintenance chemo of Capecitabine and Bev

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waw4
Posts: 847
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:44 am
Location: Durham, NC

Re: Weight gain post surgeries

Postby waw4 » Wed Feb 08, 2017 11:31 pm

dianetavegia wrote:Chemo only lowers the chance of recurrence by a very small amount. Oncs are good with 'word games' when they give you the info.
Despite undergoing complete surgical removal of the cancer, half of patients with Stage III colon carcinoma experience recurrence of their cancer. In two large trials, adding FOLFOX increased 3-year disease free survival by 5-7%
http://www.texasoncology.com/types-of-c ... lon-cancer

The 5–7% increase in survival rate mentioned is that ascribed to the oxaliplatin component of the FOLFOX chemotherapy—the 5FU (flourouracil & leucovorin) component improves the 3-year disease free survival rate from 50% surgery-only to 72–76% with the 5FU chemotherapy. Survival rate surgery only—50%; survival rate surgery +5FU—65–72%; survival rate surgery + 5FU + Oxaliplatin 72–76%. That's what is stated.

-Bill
Bill's Colonoscopy 6/29/10; Dx Stage I or II
Surgery 7/15/10; Dx Stage III,15/32 lymph nodes
FOLFOX4 start 9/14/10; end 1/20/11 (9 tx)
2021 dx MSH6 Lynch Syndrome positive
(as are my brother, sister & son, but not daughter)
Grateful for 2nd Chance NED time!


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