I have got felt so down these past few days with this weight gain from the tamoxifen. It is making me feel depressed.
I was talking to a friend today who had been to a Rosemary Connelly class and although she isnt on tamoxifen had lost weight and said it was very good.
However i do not want to spend lots of money and find because of my medication i cant lose weight.
I just cant bare the thought of summer and being so fat.
Read the BCC leaflet i had on diet and weight and its not a lot of help.
I have been on tamoxifen since October and my weight has remained the same. To be honest, my appetite hasn’t been the same since before dx though. I wonder can you lose the weight put on because of the meds? I am really sorry to hear you are feeling down. I also feared starting tamoxifen because of the weight gain. How long have you been on it? I hope others will be a better help then me and give you some answers. Best wishes, Teacup xx
Dear Liverbird - Sorry you are feeling so down about this. For all the benefits, these medications all have side effects and sometimes it can just feel like one assault on our bodies after another. The only thing I can tell you about Tamoxifen and weight gain is what I was told by the ladies who I saw when I was running a lymphoedema clinic in UK. Although there was little in the literature one after the other was concerned that they had gained weight, and that it was commonly around the abdomen and hips leading to tight waist bands and despair when trying on their usual clothes. I won’t say that no one managed to lose weight, but a more common response was to accept that this was a side effect of the medication and instead on agonizing about it all the time to get a few new outfits that they really felt comfortable and good in and to not worry about it too much. These hormone treatments have had such a wonderful benefit in the treatment of breast cancer that for most the benefits far far outweigh the downside. Don’t know how much this will help - will be able to add my personal experience a few months from now! I am sure other ladies will be able to help you out. Stop thinking you are fat. Start thinking you are beautiful - you will start to change before your very eyes! Love and a big hug. Sarah xx
Ive lost a lot of weight…4 nd half stone since september…oncologist wasnt happy and is now testing me for everything left right and centre. Im not on a diet, not doing loads of exercise…just general pottering about…i dont have an appetite and am having to force myself to eat. My liver is huuuuge so am having loads of tests done to rule anything else out.
Your not fat at all chick!
Sorry to hear you are having problems with your weight. I believe it is a common problem. However, just so we don’t scare everyone off, weight gain is not inevitable. Is it down to our basic metabolisms? I am one of those annoying women who is naturally slim. I have been on tamoxifen for three months now, with no weight gain. I eat what I like, but I run twice a week and swim once a week, so it’s not like I don’t work at it. Please don’t think I’m suggesting that if only other people exercised more they would be OK, I’m not, I know I am lucky in this way. My dad was slim and my mum struggled with her weight, I inherited my dad’s build. But, I don’t want those yet to start Tamoxifen to be put off.
Hi Ruth x well, i was only on tamoxifen for 50 days, (sad when you know exactly how long!!!) and then on zoladex for 3 months, in that time inbeknown to me (who does not possess a set of scales) i had put on just over 1 stone in weight! only knew that cos they insist on putting you on the blinking scales in your pre op! don’t despair Ruth, told my hubby that he is going to love me even if i turn into a rollipolli!!!
lots of love
Alisonxxxxx
I started to put on weight ( 5 pounds) v quickly when taking tamoxifen. Rang onc who insisted that tamoxifen does not cause weight gain it is probably because we have been thrown into an early menopause and weight gain is natural at this stage. EVEN THOUGH I AM ONLY 44!!!
I went on a diet and lost it and now I have managed to stay at what always was but I have to eat half as much as I did to remain stable which is very boring and just another load of c*ap that bc gives you.
I think it is tamoxifen but he says not - who knows? I think the bottom line is eat lettuce or pile on weight , Still only 3 more years of them to go . . . … . .!