Eating to Lose Weight After Treatment

Expert Quote

“In terms of central body weight gain, some women are more responsive to a lower carbohydrate/more simple sugar diet than to a low-fat diet. But there are wide individual variations, and you should work with your healthcare provider to design the best weight loss diet for you. ”

Cyndi Thomson Ph.D., R.D.

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Why do some people with breast cancer gain weight?

Many people gain weight when they are treated with chemotherapy and steroids. Your extra weight may hang around and increase after chemotherapy if you also take hormonal therapy (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor). If your body shifts into menopause because of chemotherapy, there's a tendency to gain weight.

Even without chemotherapy, you may gain weight. The shock of a diagnosis, the disruption of your life, getting through and beyond surgery and radiation, the strain of relationships at home and at work, financial stress, and less physical activity all contribute to weight gain. And like many people, you may be certain that taking a hormonal therapy medication makes you gain weight and makes it nearly impossible to lose weight. But two of the major studies conducted in the United States and Canada by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP, a cooperative research group) showed that women taking a placebo (a sugar pill) were just as likely to gain weight as women taking tamoxifen. (Because aromatase inhibitors are relatively new, research on aromatase inhibitors and weight gain hasn't been done yet.)

If you've gained weight, you probably want to know why. Perhaps you are less physically active but eating as much as (or more than) before. And you may need FEWER calories to maintain the same weight because of menopausal changes in your overall metabolism.

You may have stopped smoking and found yourself snacking more instead. You also may be struggling with self-image issues or fighting depression, which can lead to overeating.

Losing weight becomes much harder as we grow older, but it can still be done with exercise and very careful changes in your diet. Be nice to yourself; don't punish yourself.

There are lots of good reasons to maintain a healthy weight. You'll feel stronger, have more energy, and boost your self-esteem. Also, research has shown that being overweight can increase the risk of the cancer coming back. Some studies have shown that women who were overweight at diagnosis had about a one-third increased risk of the cancer coming back. (For example, the risk could go from 6% to 8%, because one-third of 6 is 2.) Other studies showed more than a five-fold (5 times) risk increase (for example, the risk might go from 6% to 31%).

The first thing to do if you want to lose weight is to talk to your doctors and a registered dietitian about a safe and sensible plan designed specifically for you and your needs. Your doctors may want you to wait until you have completely recovered from treatment or any other health issues you may have.

These steps can help you lose weight after treatment:

• Assess Your Weight
• Create a Healthy Eating Plan That Includes Exercise
• Make Healthy Food Choices and Lose Weight