Excessive weight gain after treatment?

[Tangolover]

I finished my two years of treatment with Rituxan and Venetoclax. After six months of being off the treatments, I have had a weight gain of 10 pounds. Eating habits not changed and actually started working out at the gym. Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience. At my age, it's hard to lose weight and I can't fit into any of my clothes!

[bayside64]

Yes. I am experiencing the same thing. Two years after V/O and uMRD, I also cannot fit into my clothes. It’s frustrating. My hemonc/specialist said to eat less and exercise more. It’s nice to know that I am not the only one.

[LeoPa in reply to bayside64]

Your hemonc specialist is clueless. I can't believe they keep repeating the eat less move more nonsense. It's not about how much you eat or move. The only important thing is WHAT you eat.

I recommend you get a copy of "Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It" by Gary Taubes. All one needs to know is in it.

[Bobby9toes in reply to LeoPa]

Thank you for the book suggestion. I just ordered it.

[LeoPa in reply to Bobby9toes]

Welcome! I'm sure you'll find it as useful as I did.

[bayside64 in reply to LeoPa]

I agree. It’s what we eat.

[Tangolover in reply to bayside64]

Yes, thank you--I thought it was just me!

[SUN5H1N3]

Definitely not just you. Will be done with V&O next month and did a combo of carnivore/keto from June to Nov and I lost the 10 lbs I’d gained with all the steroids. Went off diet for holidays, hahaha, not completely off but gained 5 lbs back. Carnivore/keto isn’t for everyone but I love meat and it helped me.

And just so everyone knows I am considered “otherwise healthy” so an all meat/high fat diet did not cause me any harm. I had extra labs drawn to make sure. “Otherwise healthy” is like saying, “besides the cancer, I’m otherwise healthy!” I get a laugh out of some people.

You are not alone in this struggle. And just like most side effects, the weight gain is not logically or reasonably because of the cancer meds. Just ask a doctor 🤷‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️😂

[Tangolover in reply to SUN5H1N3]

Thank you!

[lankisterguy Administrator Volunteer]

Hi Tangolover,

You may find more answers by looking for the box on this page labeled: Related Posts

*Weight gain after treatment - a confession

*Weight gain

*Unwanted weight gain after FCR

*weight loss/gain

*Weight gain

>

I've had similar issues when I changed treatments, and had to severely restrict my carbos, especially the wheat based items. I had to really cut back on my portion sizes until the excess weight came off. It is rarely easy, and takes a lot of concentration to get my body to reset back to my goal weight.

>

Len

[Tangolover in reply to lankisterguy]

Thank you, Len! I don't feel so alone anymore!

[MN1999]

I wonder if extra calories were being burned during treatment and now your body is in a better, healing place?

[Tangolover in reply to MN1999]

I have no idea. And thinking that weight loss is a symptom of our disease and now that the disease is somewhat gone, could it be a natural reaction?

[Thundercat2]

As the disease progressed for me I began losing weight and didn't need to. While that was happening I could eat pretty much anything I wanted and as much as I wanted. Admittedly, I indulged a bit too much. Anyway I ended up with a virus and lost a total of almost 30 pounds. That was new and rather shocking for me!

Now after a year long treatment and remission I have gained it all back plus 10! I haven't really changed my eating habits either, I attribute it to being more healthy as my body is not having to fight the disease. I don't mind having a little extra layer of protection either after losing all the weight before, but I do need to get back to more healthy eating now that the holidays are over.

[Tangolover in reply to Thundercat2]

Thanks for your story! I am planning on doing the same in the new year!

[gardenman68]

No, I did not experience that. My appetite is horrible though, so that may explain that. Plus I lost some weight with the rituxan infusions. And yes, its so hard to get rid of! I actually wanted to lose a few pounds, so I did the fasting diet. I ate everything I wanted from noon to 8pm. And then absolutely no calories the rest of the time. It actually worked, but I didn't stay on it for very long. Mostly because I missed the cream in my morning tea. ha ha

[Tangolover in reply to gardenman68]

Thank you and I will try the fasting thing!