High Cholesterol after chemo?

[johnseed]

Hello everyone,

Has anyone found their cholesterol level to be high after chemo?

I am four years out of chemo, and just tested at 230. A few years back I also tested high, and started a program of jogging and watching what I ate, although lately I have slipped back to eating fatty foods. My doctor wants to put me on cholesterol reducing drugs.

I did read recently that high cholesterol can occur during chemo.

Could this be related to reduced testosterone levels after orchitectomy?

Any information and your stories would be appreciated.

JS

[BeachTech]

Hello everyone,

Has anyone found their cholesterol level to be high after chemo?

I am four years out of chemo, and just tested at 230. A few years back I also tested high, and started a program of jogging and watching what I ate, although lately I have slipped back to eating fatty foods. My doctor wants to put me on cholesterol reducing drugs.

I did read recently that high cholesterol can occur during chemo.

Could this be related to reduced testosterone levels after orchitectomy?

Any information and your stories would be appreciated.

JS

Follow what your doctor suggest. However, I have been talking to other doctors about cholesterol lowering drugs. It seems that people who lower their cholesterol with cholesterol lowering drugs don't live any longer. The medical community is starting to think that cholesterol should not be the focus.

Anyway, a few months after I finished chemo, I had mine checked. I am just a little above what I was before, but still in the safe range.

Here is my philosophy: The increase in cholesterol for some post-chemo TC patients is not because chemo changes our bodies, it's because it changes our thinking. Most of us, myself included, were fairly healthy pre-cancer. I ate mostly chicken, with beef and pork a few times a month. I hardly ever ate fast food. Despite all this, I still got cancer. Then, chemo makes you wish you could taste food. Then when you can, you eat EVERYTHING. That's what I did. Eating was my new favorite sport. Wow, food never tasted sooooooo good! The rest of my relatives ate garbage and none of them developed cancer. So screw it, I'm eating garbage too.

Luckily I came to my senses quickly and I am back to my pre-cancer weight. I am eating a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, mostly chicken, and a steak on a special occasion. No more pork or fast food.

Anyway, that's my theory. I'd like to write more, but there is some ice cream in the freezer that's calling my name.
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Colorado dispensary

[Eric]

High cholesterol is long term effect that chemo can bring a decade later for 10 to 15% of all patients and probably more. I think that cisplatin is the cause of this. I believe in beachtech's theory also. The best you can do is do some exercise, eat a lot of fruits and vegetable(especially strawberry and garlic) and follow your doctor's order.