HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - how fat in your diet may influence whether cancer metastasizes

AlaskaAngel · 02-27-2009, 09:51 AM

.... then (for me at least) it raises the question yet again about the standard, unquestioned continuing use of some drugs in support of chemotherapy.

We already know that the steroids used in support of chemotherapy cause significant weight gain for many (but not all) cancer patients. This is weight that is then harder to lose because chemotherapy puts many patients in menopause. Metabolism in menopausal patients is lower and the recommendation is for those menopausal patients who are overweight to "get used to" permanently eliminating somewhere between 200 and 400 calories a day from what they've been normally eating just to maintain and not gain more weight. Adding exercise to that permanent sacrifice is recommended for losing some of the excess weight gained during chemotherapy.

So, in looking at this logically as a cause and effect situation.... and knowing that there is a significant population of breast cancer patients who would never need any chemotherapy at all to remain NED.... (particularly now that most breast cancer is being diagnosed in the early stages)... and knowing that having the chemotherapy includes being given the steroids... it is logical for me to ask, how many of these people are having recurrence DUE TO the supportive drug given with the chemotherapy that often causes significant weight gain?

Considering that a large number of the population is overweight even before treatment with these drugs, how many patients are among us who might have been able to avoid recurrence with mets entirely by not having the therapy that involves the use of these drugs?

02-27-2009, 09:51 AM	#7
AlaskaAngel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 2,018	If a key to mets is fats.... .... then (for me at least) it raises the question yet again about the standard, unquestioned continuing use of some drugs in support of chemotherapy. We already know that the steroids used in support of chemotherapy cause significant weight gain for many (but not all) cancer patients. This is weight that is then harder to lose because chemotherapy puts many patients in menopause. Metabolism in menopausal patients is lower and the recommendation is for those menopausal patients who are overweight to "get used to" permanently eliminating somewhere between 200 and 400 calories a day from what they've been normally eating just to maintain and not gain more weight. Adding exercise to that permanent sacrifice is recommended for losing some of the excess weight gained during chemotherapy. So, in looking at this logically as a cause and effect situation.... and knowing that there is a significant population of breast cancer patients who would never need any chemotherapy at all to remain NED.... (particularly now that most breast cancer is being diagnosed in the early stages)... and knowing that having the chemotherapy includes being given the steroids... it is logical for me to ask, how many of these people are having recurrence DUE TO the supportive drug given with the chemotherapy that often causes significant weight gain? Considering that a large number of the population is overweight even before treatment with these drugs, how many patients are among us who might have been able to avoid recurrence with mets entirely by not having the therapy that involves the use of these drugs?