I know I shouldn’t be worrying about this but my weight is slowly increasing each week. I’m on docetaxel and herceptin. I have docetaxel every week for 3 weeks then a week off. I’m walking 3-5 mikes a day to help with mental health and mild side effects, but my tummy is swollen and weight is slowly increasing. It’s really bothering me. I know I should be just focussed on getting cancer free but it’s just another thing to deal with. I’m drink water mainly as my mouth is sore so don’t fancy hot drinks or anything fizzy. I feel puffy in the face. I’m not sure what rise I need to do. My diet is healthy and filled with fresh veg and protein. I used to use food as comfort in stressful situations but it’s fortunately giving me little comfort as I don’t fancy the usual calorie comfort foods. Has anyone experienced this? What did you do? Did you follow a meal plan or just accept its part and parcel of this process? For context I’m 45 and since starting chemo no period so I’ve been launched into a chemical / real menopause. It’s probably unlikely periods will return but obviously I’m now low in oestrogen? What have others done to help managed this?
Hello, I had EC and Docetaxel, 4 of each. I put on half a stone during chemo and like you described I was also puffy in the face and bloated. I think you’re doing all you can with eating well and exercising. The chemo itself and the steroids make us gain weight unfortunately. I wasn’t able to do much exercise during chemo due to fatigue but since I’ve finished (end of October) I’m walking a lot more and my weight is going down slowly and my face is a lot less puffy. Chemo also put me into menopause and I’m now on Letrozol so not sure if my weight will increase again. I think you’re doing all you can and unfortunately this is just another shitty side effect we have to deal with but it won’t necessarily last. Hope the rest of your treatment goes smoothly.,
Oh god I share your pain. I put on a huge amount of weight during chemo which I found really the last degradation. Not only does cancer take your hair but you can’t even look thin and interesting. Like you, I ate healthily and pretty much lost my appetite anyway, but the weight piled on. I felt like a beached whale most of the time and have discarded any photographs of me at that time. The good news is that five years on all the weight has come off and a bit more besides, but I still remember that awful bloated feeling. I don’t honestly think there is anything more you can do but know that it will pass
@teddy271@twinks77 thank you ladies. It really does seem unfair doesn’t in an already unfair situation. I’ll just persevere and attempt to keep doing what I’m doing then once chemo is over try to address this with the team. It’s very emotionally draining but in the process I’ll remember and be grateful to be cancer free xxx sending you both lots of love and hope x
@kat80pink yep with you my love. I’m on docetaxel and Herceptin too and am bloating like Moby Dick. Like you I can’t do as much exercise as I’d like due to fatigue and also a previous herniated disc problem.
I’ve been reading up on it. We will eventually lose our chemo belly, so try your best not to zero in on it, but I totally get how you’re feeling as I feel exactly the same.
Keep doing what you can. Eat what you can or what you fancy and after this sh!t show is over it is something you can explore. I did it 10 years ago when I gave up smoking. I accepted I would be heavy for a year, and boy was I ever, but then 3 months after kicking it, I went on a health kick and lost 3 stone in 6 months.
For now, stay well, and stay your own best friend. XXX
@Jaygo thank you do much- needed that reassurance x you’re right it is a s@&t show so I’ll just do what I can. So disheartening when you do everything your meant to do to help / or prevent side effects x
@kat80pink I know. We can do it, and happy to buddy up with you after we’re out the other side if you fancy. We could cheer each other on.
I say this not to sound like I am lecturing, but just sharing a conversation that I had at the weekend with my husband over the meltdown I was having over this exact topic.
I had been enjoying the gym prior to this lot kicking off, but I paused membership for a few months as I can’t do much down there and I was chucking good money away. Anyway, there are two chaps go down on a Sunday probably in their 70s and one guy’s wife is having cancer treatment, so he regularly asks my husband how I am getting on. Her cancer is stomach/bowel related.
Anyway, while I was bemoaning my despair regarding weight, my husband said that said chap is really worried about his wife as she can’t keep the weight on. She’s gone down to 7st and it is a concern.
As I say, I am not offering this as a source of shaming you, me or anyone else, but we are so conditioned with weight that we can’t override the fact that sometimes gaining weight is a good thing. We need to hold a bit of weight to withstand the treatment if that makes sense.
I look like I have put on about 2 stone, but in reality I have hovered between 71 and 73 kg throughout treatment. I would normally be around 68kg.
Hi ! It’s fantastic you’re doing all that walking! I’ve just finished (surgery x2, chemo, radio) I’ve the same problem! It’s hard. I joined action cancer for nutritionist support re fatigue, getting back to normal. She has told me not to think about weight loss at the moment as your body has undergone stress. I had already joined slimming world to at least stick to healthy foods. Here, just to let you know my face was really puffy but I think it was just the steroids and it went down in about 6 weeks or so…. Jox
