Does Weight Affect Chemo?

Does Weight Affect Chemo?

Slight fluctuations (a few pounds) in your weight, after chemotherapy, either up or down, are not dangerous. However, significant chemotherapy weight loss or weight gain may affect your health and/or your ability to tolerate your treatments.

What does it mean when a cancer patient loses weight?

Weight loss can be attributed to the cancer itself and the treatment you are receiving. In an attempt to fight the cancer cells, the body produces cytokines, which can lead to a loss of appetite and muscle mass, leading to weight loss.

Why do you gain weight on chemo?

Chemotherapy can lead to weight gain by: Causing the body to hold on to excess fluid, called edema. Causing fatigue, making it harder to exercise. Increasing nausea that improves by eating more food.

Does chemo get harder?

The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.

What type of cancer causes weight gain?

Sudden or unexplained weight gain and bloating may be a sign of ovarian cancer. Other symptoms of ovarian cancer include: pain in the abdomen or pelvis.

Can you gain weight with cancer?

People with certain kinds of cancer might have swelling in the abdomen (belly) that causes weight gain. Or, sometimes you gain weight because certain anti-cancer drugs cause your body to hold on to extra fluid.

Which chemo has the worst side effects?

Integumentary system (skin, hair, and nails) Hair loss is perhaps the most infamous side effect of chemo treatments. Many chemotherapy drugs affect hair follicles and can cause hair loss (alopecia) within a few weeks of the first treatment.

What is chemo belly?

Bloating can also be caused by slowed movement of food through the G.I. (gastrointestinal tract or digestive tract) tract due to gastric surgery, chemotherapy (also called chemo belly), radiation therapy or medications. Whatever the cause, the discomfort is universally not welcome.

Why do I lose so much weight after chemo?

Weight loss is most often associated with dieting. However, weight loss after chemotherapy is associated with side effects of chemo that can sometimes interfere with your ability to eat or drink and affect your ability to maintain your healthy weight. Chemotherapy weight loss may occur as a result of:

Can a 70 year old person handle chemotherapy?

Older Patients Can Handle Chemotherapy. A new study published in the Feb. 15 issue of Cancer shows that people 70 and older actually handle chemotherapy pretty well. The study looked at 60 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and examined changes in their functional, mental, nutritional, and quality of life measures.

How does chemotherapy affect quality of life for cancer patients?

The study looked at 60 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and examined changes in their functional, mental, nutritional, and quality of life measures. Even though the patients did experience overall decreases, the changes were surprisingly minor.

How to Detox Your Body from chemo side effects?

Water Intake: The more you drink, the more toxins gets eliminated from the body. Water works as detoxification catalyst and helps in alleviating nausea and other chemotherapy side effects. You can also add antioxidant rich drinks like apple, mint and cucumber water.