Who gained weight & who lost?
 

This is kind of like a un-official poll. lol But I have read more people say they gained weight on chemo or herceptin. I don't care if its either or...I am just curious as to how many here gained or lost since their journey with bc started?

Myself, the minute I was DX that was a INSTANT diet. I was stressed and scared out of my mine so it was hard to eat. So I started losing then. But then chemo started and with the Taxotere, Carbpotin it destroyed my taste buds. I had to force myself it eat...and such small amounts. Everything tasted terrible as you all know. That first week after a fully cycle of chemo...its impossible to eat for me. After about 7 or 8 days it got a little easier. I don't think the herceptin bothers my appetite at all. When I have weekly herceptin I have no problems eating.

But since this nightmare started I have lost 32 pounds. I seem to be holding at that amount. Can't lose anymore. Although I am concerned when they start me on Femara I will start gaining?

But who here has gained...and who has lost? And do you think its just a change in what your eating due to the affects of chemo? I sometimes that might play a large part in gaining because all the normal foods you once loved now taste bad. So we end up eating anything that we can get by our taste buds. :)

Chelee

I have gained about 25 pounds over a 5 year period. Now, several things. I was diagnosed 5 years ago. I am now 59 years old so I am in that age group where the body does slow down. I have to eat frequently to keep my energy up and not feel sick because I do have fibromalgia. I think for me chemo Taxol, carboplatin and herceptin is what I have had mostly has caused me to gain this weight. I really don't know the answer here or how anyone can know. I think you will find some has gained and some have lost. Who will or who won't is anyone's guess. I have not tried to figure it out am just thankful to still be alive. hugs, Sandy

I lost 25 lbs during chemo and another 12 after that (during Herceptin and Arimidex). I am down almost 40 lbs. I work to stay there now because I look and feel good.


Kind regards

Becky

I have lost 55 pounds, mostly in the first 8 or 9 months since my her2 diagnosis 2 years ago, and haven't gained any back, though I am now able to eat anything I want. It's just that I lost all taste for sweets, and seem to be able to eat only small amounts at a time. I too have fibromyalgia and lots of pain. I was on navelbine and herceptin the first 6 months, then just herceptin for 9 more months, though I have taken femara from the first also. Am now NED. I don't know if there is any rhyme or reason to why some people gain and some lose! This is an interesting survey and I hope it gives us a clue! Hugs, Tricia

I lost weight during chemo (about 20 pounds) although I was never nauseated - things just didn't taste that good. Now, however, I have a terrible sweet tooth and have gained about 10 of those uneeded/unwanted pounds back.

Oops
 

Sorry, I forgot to log in!!

I gained 20 lbs during chemo. Lost it between chemo and herceptin and have gained it back on herceptin. I don't know how representative I am because I have always been heavy and had just lost 40 lbs prior to diagnosis. BERTA

Chelee,
Like you, I was so shocked by my diagnosis that I lost 6 lbs in one week! Not eating anything and living in a state of shock will do that to you. Once I started chemo (Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin) in Oct 2002 I maintained for a little while but after a couple of months I started gaining, a total of about 18 lbs over the course of the year. I didn't have any nausea and found I could eat pretty regular - but I stopped working out! My doc told me the premeds cause a lot of weight gain. Now I'm back down to about where I began - and working to lose another 15 or so lbs in a rational way! I've been on Herceptin alone for about a year, and haven't experienced any more unearned weight gain from that. YOu will feel much better once you're off the "hard stuff" and be able to get back to some sense of normalcy and maintain yourself at a healthy weight. Good luck - and hang in there!
Chris

Thin or overweight at dx?
 

I think part of the key to this question is whether we were fairly stable and in a good range when we were diagnosed.
never was over 128 in my life prior to dx. The pounds crept on during treatment mainly because of decadron I think. My mets came very soon after initial treatment and this did not help with the weight as I had to have the same premed, but a lower dose.

Age is the other big factor and how our metabolism is doing with the hormone changes.
I now weight in the 140- 143 range - and fight hard to keep that number.

Fatigue and lowered activity level is the other main factor off the top of my head. Just not enough "get up and go" in the tank. Flab happens then.

The only time I lost weight was when I was on higher dose of Decadron for the brain mets - high enough to buzz me up and interrupt my sleep. That is because the drug is muscle wasting in that dose.
I have taken Herceptin now for 4 years and this does not seem to affect my weight.

Started out in normal range but heavier than I had been when younger. Diagnosis made me lose my appetite and 10#. During AC I weighed myself often and would eat high calorie foods whenever my weight went down. Gained 8# during taxol and premeds. Lost a couple during rads. My weight has stabilized during the Herceptin and tamoxifen stage. I'm hoping that I don't balloon when I switch to an AI.

Well I lost 75 pounds with diet and exercise in 2003 and maintained it until I was diagnosed in October 2005. I have only gained about 5 pounds since my diagnosis but I barely exercise (just dont have the energy) and have found that the wobbly skin has just appeared out of no where! Of course I am almost 50 so it is the age I guess as well huh?
Bobbi

weight gain/loss
 

I have gained 10 pounds sinc starting treatment in Novemeber - hrceptain and lupron - either of it could have done it but who knows. No matter how much I diet can't get rid of it - I amin the gym 5x a week and also walk - still nothing - As a vegetarian I eat lots of fruits and veggies and fish . SMall amount so of sweets and almost no fired foods ( an occassional french fry) - makesno sense has to be the meds. Onc said to join weight watchers.

I have been a yo-yo dieter since my teens so I had issues with weight before the diagnosis. I also have a sweet tooth. I lost 20 pounds with adriamycin and had to take a month off between A/C and taxol treatments. I started to gain during that month. The doctor told me not to worry about food, and if ice cream helps me get through treatment, eat ice cream. I took that as a Green Light. I've gained the 20 lost pounds back and about 20 more. Practically all food for me is comfort food. I'm getting radiation now and don't want to push myself, but I know I will have to start changing my diet soon. MJo

I lost about 4-5 lbs during my lumpectomy and remained about the same through out my chemo. During my dose dense a/c I got along with my first one so well that my onc said I could try cutting the steroids that they gave me to take the first days following, I was able to get by with half of the original amount. When I began the taxol and herceptin (weekly) after I got along with the first treatment, he cut the premed steroid in half for the rest of my infusions. I would be so hungry for the first couple of days after these treatments that I could never get full. He also said that exercise was the best fatique fighter so if I could handle it to try and not become a couch potato. I had a treadmill at home and started with that and worked myself up to 3-4 miles. He told me that during chemo was not a time to try and lose weight, but I was fortunate that I remained the same and did not gain. He said that many women gain weight during their chemo. I am now on herceptin every three weeks and still have a couple of hungry days following my infusions. I eat a pretty healthy diet and am getting plenty of exercise (I'm training for the 3 day in Arizona in November with my daughter).but feel that right now if I didn't kind of watch things I would put weight on pretty easily. I am also taking tamoxifen, and I don't know if that has anything to do with weight issues.

I was about 115lbs before diagnosis and once I was diagnosed, I think the combination of dx and tx I lost about 9lbs. Now with Herceptin only, I am back up to 115 - 118lbs.

Karen

I was 125lbs until 1st time around and after 2nd time around and during chemo I gained 15lbs. Most of my adult life I weighed between 108 and 115 so at 140 I feel odd. I'm 5'6" - I've never dieted in my life and not sure I have the will power for dieting. I'm still hanging on to my clothes in the hope I'll lose some of this weight but it's looking more doubtful. Still I think we're all just happy to be here! Interesting that some lost and some gained. I wonder why. I feel my metabolism has never really picked up again.
sarah

Weight Gain or Loss
 

Hi:

I weighed 136 at the time of diagnosis and lost 21 pounds with A/C and Taxol. I have since gained and now weigh around 123 lbs which is less than I weighed at the time of diagnosis. I have been on Herceptin for two years and don't know if that is the reason I gained some weight back or if it is what I eat and how much exercise I get.

Barb

I stayed relatively the same.
 

I maybe lost 2-3 lbs during chemo, and now that I'm just on herceptin and really watching what I eat & exercise, I've lost another 10 lbs or so.

I started out about 15 lbs overweight, so I'm pretty close to where I'd like to be.

Stayed the same
 

I started at 165 and stayed there for the whole year. I was 30lbs over weight when I started, I was going through menopause so I think that plus the bc was what made me gain so much. I pray once meno is over that the weight will come off.

RAndi

With chemo treatment I lost about 25 pounds. No appetite due to metalic taste in mouth. I needed to be thinner, so the weight loss was a good thing.

I maintained that weight for about two years. After starting herceptin, I began gaining it all back. I just finished my last herceptin treatment, so am hoping the steady increase in weight will start to decline.

Still, thankful for herceptin and hoping it works.

I lost 39 pounds after diagnosis and during chemo. I started to regain the weight after starting Arimidex and have now gain 30 back.........hoping to lose some of that this summer.

I probably have gained 20 pounds in the last 2 years since my first dx. I was so depressed I just ate and ate. Then when I got past that, I was 20 pounds heavier and I have struggled to lose it even with the dieting that helped me lose 30 pounds a few years ago. Same diet, not losing the weight.

Gained
 

I am up 25 pounds in the 4 1/2 years since diagnosis....I started gaining when I started on Herceptin, but I think alot of it is due to menopause....everyone always said I was too thin, now I feel too heavy. I went from 125 to 150....size 6 to size 10

I lost a few pounds at first because of the stress. But then durung chemo I gained around 8lbs. I ate comfort foods, anything that tasted good to me like hot fudge sundays. Then this last winter during radiation I had to drive 50 miles there and 50 miles back every day for 33 days. So who ever was with me at the time, and I would stop and eat out some place fun, to make a bad situtation fun and I gained another 7 lbs in that 6 week period. Since summer I have taken the 7 off by being more active and watching a little more, what I eat. I am still 7lbs heaver then when all this began almost 6 years ago. Of course like others I am in menopause now. Patty H

Gained weight
 

Hi,
I started out about 3-5 lbs. underweight and then with TAC chemo gained about 7 lbs. due to stress, only tolerating fatty foods, and inactivity. When I finished chemo, I lost a few lbs. but then decided to do a year of Herceptin every 3 weeks. After only 2 treatments, I gained an additional 7 lbs. and was told by my oncologist that most women with breast cancer gain weight. I just finished my year of herceptin and have already lost 2 lbs. Could be psychological?

I was 135 all of my adult life. Real skinny. My ideal weight would be 160; Then at 45 (pre-menopausal) I started gaining 1 lb/month until I stabilized (finally) at 185 at the age of 51. Menopause was at 48.
Before I could pull a diet regimen together, I was diagnosed. During chemo I gained 20 more lbs.
Had a horrendously large appetite while getting steroids with the Taxol/Herceptin combo; Not to mention the inactivity during winter and chemo months.
I am actively trying to lose wieght now.

This was an fun thread to see how chemo affected each person. I realize there are so many variables to why some of us women have lost or gained weight, but I was trying to see if more gained verses lost, since thats what it seemed like from all the reading I had done?

Its pretty hard to tell after hearing everyones story...and its pretty much what I expected. :) Myself I lost weight but that started from the DAY I was told I had bc. I LOST my appetite the *minute* I was told, as I read several other people here did too.

I use to eat ice cream at least twice a week before hearing the bad news...but after the DX...I had no interest in my ice cream. So that alone could of been responsible for some of my weight lose. Then you add chemo later...and I had that taxotere, carb, & herceptin...I really believe I blame the taxo for the AWFUL taste in my mouth and how my teeth felt coated with gross stuff. It was darned near impossible to eat after my full cycle infusions. I just was NOT hungry. When I HAD to force myself to eat...it was nasty. (Good old Taxotere!) Heck of a way to diet. lol

So its hard to say with any of us what caused the weight gain or lose? Like some mentioned here...when your tired and fatigued and don't get the excersize you use to...that alone changes things . Age, chemo regimen for each person is different in many cases.

I know I was always amazed when I read from some women that the steroids would make them hungry. I hated those darned things...they made me bounce off the walls...I could NOT sleep...and I lost my appetite completely. But I have read where so many other women had the opposite affect and it increased their appetite.

We are all so different and what affects one can be so different for another on the exact same chemo regimen. But again...I did this just for fun.

Like I said earlier, just too many variables to this such as stress, inactivity, fatigue, lose of appeite to chemo or stress alone. Or from a TOTAL change of diet due to the fact you have to eat different things since many things you USE to like tastes terrible. And the list goes on.

I think it was Sandy that said it best. It really doesn't matter if we gain or lose....just glad to be alive. :) Boy isn't that the truth. If I gained 40 pounds in the next five months...would I be happy about it? NO...but it would be the *least* of my concerns at this point. I am just happy to get up every day and see the sun shine and spend time with my family, friends, dogs. :)

But at least I did find out it seems to be a little of both when it comes to gaining or losing. At first I only heard of women gaining...now I see it goes both ways. I think I might of gained some weight had I felt good enough to cook...but I didn't. :( Now had someone spoiled me and brought me some home cooked meals...it might of been a different story. But maybe not...that taxotere I am sure is what really killed my taste buds. Totally ruined. The thought of eating was just gross...don't know how else to put it. My infusion nurse kept telling me I HAD to eat. Much easier said then done.

Chelee

I lost 30 lbs. with chemo and have lost an additional 13 since Feb. when I began having chronic diarrhea. I do have Chron's disease but after a colonoscopy and small bowel follow through x-ray study it is felt that my diarrhea is probably due to the Herceptin and not the Chron's. I am like Becky. I am trying to keep the weight off as I have been overweight since adolescence. So for I have succeded. I must admit that aside from the inconvenience of diarrhea I feel great and will get my last dose of Herceptin on July11. All studies show NED!
Marlys

Marlys, You sound like me...I lost 32 since chemo. Just no appetite to speak of. I needed to lose weight anyway...although I would of perferred to lose it another way as I know you would of to. I just hope I can keep it off...thats why I was concerned about starting Femara, or something like that. I didn't know if it put on weight. I still need to lose more as is.

Glad to hear you feel great and are almost done with herceptin. Plus NED...that is fantastic. Yeah.

Chelee

I gained weight during chemo, i think it was the way i tried little bits of stuff till i found what tasted okay. And now a year later I am struggling to lose what I gained. The docs all say menopause is part of why it's so hard. I'll keep trying though.

weight gain,fatigue,depression:chemo induced hypothyroidism?
 

Please see article on a possible cause of weight gain, fatigue, depression at:

http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...6735#post96735

kat in the delta
 

Hi Montana !!
I am going to start on Armidex or maybe Femara next week. Did you have any side affects ?? wt.gain/lost? joint/bone aches? or other ? Anything good about it ??
My Onc. mentioned Femara first.Then he said Arimidex. Have you heard anyone complain about 1 worse that other ???
(curious) Kat in the delta

I lost about 20 lbs while on standard chemo-- A/c and Taxol.
slowly gained some of it back and then started herceptin for a year.... in that year I have regained all that I originally lost PLUS another 10-12. I truly believe the herceptin was the real culprit tho happy to have received it. Now that I've been off of it for 2 months I'm slowly shedding some pounds.
Carol

I lost weight
 

I lost 24lbs during chemo the first time. Have since lost another 6 and am starting chemo again today... we'll see

Gained -
 

about 25 lbs - but that is the least of my worries. I am trying to learn to accept myself without reservations. Having a hard time of it. One of my coping skills i n the life portfolio is to say, "Ok, if I can't have that, then, I don't WANT it." I am trying to WANT to live life as it currently presents itself to me om on ITS terms. Right now, I manange to tolerate it. I still have a hard time thinking what I have been through is WORTH it.

kat in the delta
 

after herceptin, is anyone taking Arimidex, Femara, or aromasin ?????what are your personal side effects. if so???kat

I lost weight when I was first diagnosed, but then started gaining as soon as I started chemo. I was sick, but hungry. I gained 22 lbs in two years and really struggle with it.

I think it depends on the chemo you get. I was on taxol/carbo/herceptin and I am at the same weight as the point at which I was diagnosed. I did continue to teach my Spin classes while on chemo, so that probably helped. (That was the only time I went out in public without one of my eight wigs--I just wore a bandana--didn't want my wigs to get all sweaty :-)

I felt that if my heart rate was elevated 3x/week that I would be getting more of my money's worth from the chemo drugs--more passes through my system :-)