One thing I didn’t fully understand about chemotherapy was how differently it can affect our bodies. We often picture someone going through chemo losing a lot of weight. But some people actually GAIN weight during chemotherapy. And both can happen for very real reasons. (Cancer.gov⁠) ⬇️ WHY DO SOME PEOPLE LOSE WEIGHT? Chemotherapy can make eating difficult. You may experience: 🤢 Nausea or vomiting 🍽️ Loss of appetite 👅 Changes in taste or smell 😣 Mouth or throat soreness 🚽 Diarrhea 💧 Dehydration 😴 Extreme fatigue that makes preparing or eating food difficult Cancer itself can also change the body’s nutritional needs. When someone isn’t taking in enough calories and protein, they can lose both fat AND muscle. (Cancer.org⁠) Our bodies need calories, protein and nutrients to maintain strength and recover. (Cancer.gov⁠) ⬆️ SO WHY DO OTHER PEOPLE GAIN WEIGHT? This surprised me when I went through cancer treatment. Chemo doesn’t automatically make everyone lose weight. Some treatments can cause: 💊 Steroid-related appetite increases — medications such as dexamethasone are often given with certain chemotherapy regimens to prevent nausea or reactions, and steroids can increase appetite. 😴 Less activity — fatigue, pain and weakness may mean we’re moving much less than before treatment. 🔥 Changes in metabolism and body composition — treatment can contribute to losing muscle while gaining fat. 🌸 Treatment-induced menopause or hormone changes — particularly relevant for some people being treated for breast, ovarian or prostate cancers. 💧 Fluid retention — sometimes what looks like weight gain isn’t body fat at all. It’s extra fluid. All of these can contribute to the number on the scale going UP even while someone is going through chemotherapy. (Cancer.gov⁠) ❤️ CAN WE PREVENT IT? Sometimes we can reduce unwanted weight changes, but we can’t always completely prevent them. And active cancer treatment usually isn’t the time for extreme dieting. The goal is to keep your body strong and adequately nourished. Depending on what your oncology team recommends: 🥚 Prioritize enough protein. 🥗 Choose nutrient-dense foods when you’re able. 💧 Stay hydrated. 🍴 If you’re losing weight, smaller frequent meals and higher-calorie/high-protein foods may help. 🚶 Move your body as you’re safely able. 🏋️ When appropriate, resistance exercise can help preserve strength and muscle. 👩‍⚕️ Ask for an oncology registered dietitian if you’re struggling with weight changes. ASCO recommends appropriately tailored aerobic and resistance exercise during active treatment because it can help preserve physical function and strength and reduce fatigue. (ASCO Publications⁠) ⚠️ AND PLEASE REMEMBER: Weight gain during chemo doesn’t mean you did something wrong. And… Weight loss during chemo doesn’t necessarily mean treatment is working better. Two people can receive similar chemotherapy and have completely different experiences. Our medications, cancer type, hormones, appetite, activity level, side effects and individual bodies are different. Your body isn’t supposed to look a certain way while fighting cancer. The goal is to get you through treatment as safely and strongly as possible. 🤍🎗️ If your weight changes rapidly, tell your cancer team. The American Cancer Society advises contacting your team for significant rapid weight loss or a gain of around 5 pounds in a week, especially if accompanied by swelling, shortness of breath, weakness or dizziness. (Cancer.org⁠) 👇 CANCER FAMILY: Did you LOSE weight, GAIN weight, or stay about the same during chemotherapy? 📚 SOURCES: • National Cancer Institute — Weight Changes and Cancer • National Cancer Institute — Nutrition in Cancer Care (PDQ) • American Cancer Society — Weight Changes • American Society of Clinical Oncology #chemo#chemoe#cancere#cancersuckss#breastcancer #fypEducational only. Nutrition and weight goals during cancer treatment should be individualized with your oncology team. - @.hormonepositivej