Excessive hunger

[Nocillo]

Hello all, I’m currently on Ibrance and Tomoxifen. I was switched to these drugs after stomach mets was discovered. It seems I am constantly hungry. Does anyone else have this feeling? Thanks!

[MoUtOrWaNc]

Hi Nocillo, I am constantly hungry, too (on Ibrance and letrozole) but I attribute my hunger to boredom. I have gone back into lockdown because of delta variant even tho I am vax’d because of how low my WBCs get. Have even gone back to getting groceries delivered. When I keep myself busy with house projects (painting rooms, etc) I don’t have the hunger issue.

The other thing I have noticed is that when I eat sautéed greens (collards, kale, beet leaves, etc. with mushrooms thrown in and some roasted nuts/seeds) I get satiated much more and it curbs my hunger fluctuations. Plus those foods help limit the blood supply growth to cancer cells so win-win. Hope this helps. Best to you!

[Nocillo in reply to MoUtOrWaNc]

Thank you for your reply. I understand about locking down again. We are still very careful and always wear masks. I should focus more on food that keeps me satiated. Best wishes.

[Bettybuckets]

Hi! They keep worrying about stomach Mets with me to cuz it’s a sneaky lobular … they haven’t found it yet… but saw I had an ulcer from too much NSAIDS… thr burning felt like hunger… might that be your hunger too?

[Nocillo in reply to Bettybuckets]

Thank you for your reply. My stomach endoscopy in May showed vast improvement. I don’t feel a burning feeling. I hope they never find you have stomach mets!!!

[MoUtOrWaNc in reply to Nocillo]

That is great that your stomach mets have cooled off. Wonderful news! Thank the goddesses for all of these drug options.

[Nocillo in reply to MoUtOrWaNc]

Yes!!!

[Hidden]

Hi! I was diagnosed with de novo mbc in Feb 2021. I have extensive bone mets only. I’m on Ibrance and Arimidex. For my first 3 Ibrance cycles I was hungry all the time and had to carry calorie dense snacks in my purse just to get through the day. This disappeared during my 4th cycle and it isn’t and issue now. My husband always laughs when he sees loss of appetite as a side effect on the Ibrance TV ads!

[Nocillo in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. I always carry a snack too. I can’t even remember what cycle I’m on, probably 5 or 6? Good luck to you!

[Georgiamjb]

Hello! I also have stomach mets and feel hungry most of the day. I found that eating small meals and snacks throughout the day helps a lot. Also, protein seems to help too. For now I am stable and thankful for Ibrance/Letrozole. I wish you all the best!

[Nocillo in reply to Georgiamjb]

Yes, I eat throughout the day. Protein does help. We seem to have the same situation. I am so grateful for these medicines and the people that create them! Good luck to you!!

[Dragonfly2]

Hello! I’m on anastrozole and IBrance…and yes, I have a healthy appetite. I replaced alcoholic drinks with occasional nonalcoholic beer…which is between 69 and 90 calories depending on the brand. I also try to drink seltzer and avoid sugary drinks. However food is important: it’s preparation and trying new recipes. So I’m fighting weight gain with outdoor activities like golf and walking. It’s a battle. Sweets call my name, savory food have my zip code. EVERYTHING tastes good. I guess it’s not so bad…I feel so bad for those poor cancer patients who develop cachexia and can’t recover. So, let’s view our good appetite as a positive..as my oncologist said when I bemoaned my weight: stay active, don’t worry.😘

[Nocillo in reply to Dragonfly2]

Thanks for your reply. I do actually enjoy eating all the time! I am with you on sweets and savory!!! I do find the more water I drink does help too. Good for you for being so active. Best of luck to you!

[NPmary]

Suggest getting your fasting blood sugar checked and asking about switching from tamoxifen to an aromatherapy inhibitor. Good luck. Let us know how you are doing.

[Nocillo in reply to NPmary]

Thank you for your response. My fasting blood and A1c were fine in June. I’ll keep the other in mind. Good luck to you.

[NPmary]

Thanks, glad your blood work was good. I have been on ibrance and letrozole for almost 4 years progression free, have had the hunger all the time feeling at times (not all the time). Lost alit of weight when first diagnosed with mets, have since gained 20 pounds (wish l could lose 10 and not gain more). Feel like l have no control over any of it.

[Hidden]

My mom always said “A sick person who eats doesn’t die, it’s the ones who stop eating you have to worry about”. 😊

[Gingerann1 in reply to Hidden]

I’m with your mom! When you don’t have an appetite and don’t eat that’s trouble! I lost 26 lbs with my first diagnosis 8 years ago. Eating with chemo for 6 months was extremely difficult for me. Diagnosed w MBC in Nov last year and appetite and weight have maintained on Ibrance and Faslodex so far. 🤞

[Rubyjude]

I've been on the Ibrance/Letrozole combo since October last year. I don't have the hunger issues you describe. I do feel my sense of taste is not as good as it was and I have to add more seasoning or have to eat things with a more pronounced flavour to enjoy them. It feels, however, as if my metabolic rate has dropped to zero - I have only to look at a bit of cake to put on weight! I am controlling this through improved diet and exercise. It's a battle sometimes but I'm still winning .😉

[Verbena1]

I was only on Ibrance for a few weeks but I suppose all the other medications I’m on are doing it…I’m literally always hungry! I crave carbs a lot, which was sometimes a thing for me before this, but now it’s every single day. The desire for lots of carbs and fat is ridiculous…I was wondering if it was just me, but I see this can be a side effect. And as someone said, it could be much worse not being able to eat much, and I know people struggle with that.

For now I just count it as a higher level side effect….I think it’s kind of funny sometimes.

[Nocillo in reply to Verbena1]

It’s not always a bad thing!