Weight loss

[mercyriver]

I am not even sure if it is of concern, but I thought I would ask you all.

My husband managed to drop 15 pounds in 10 days. Is this something we need to mention to the Dr?

We are in the middle of round two of 3xBEP, he didn't loose any weight during round one and it was strange for me to hear him tell me this morning he had dropped 15 pounds since the last Dr's visit.

You guys are such a great wealth of information, so thanks for letting me pick your brains!

Becki

[mstlyn]

My sons oncologist weighs him at every appointment, but a sudden loss of 15 lbs is definitely something I would mention if it were my son.

A lot of people lose weight when they are on chemo, but I would still mention it. Is he eating? Even more important, is he drinking a lot of fluid?

My son eats like a horse now .. he has always been very tall and lean, and wanted to gain weight but never could. He has gained about 7 lbs. since he started chemo. Two more rounds to go though, so who knows what is to come.

[dadmo]

I wouldn't lose sleep over the weight loss but mention it to the doctor at your next visit. As Becki mentioned the doctor is probably weighing him and will spot it anyway. Has he been eating well?

[mstlyn]

I wouldn't lose sleep over the weight loss but mention it to the doctor at your next visit. As Becki mentioned the doctor is probably weighing him and will spot it anyway. Has he been eating well?

Tammy <<<

How have you been dadmo

[mercyriver]

Eating hasn't changed since the first round, in fact I would say it is better now then it was the first round.

Of course my husband thinks I am over-reacting....oh well!

Even if he won't mention it to the nurses on Tuesday when he goes for Bleo, he has a appointment with the oncologist a week from tomorrow (Monday). So it will be seen then at least.

Robert, thank you for the shake suggestion, I will look into if my husband wants something to increase his caloric intake.

Becki

[Margaret]

As long as he is eating well, i would also not be too concerned. One interesting thing to note, is that post chemo people having a higher rate of weight gain through out their lives. I would have guessed that weight loss would be more of a concern, but it is not. Now that my husband is finished with chemo, weight gain is something they said he will have to work against the rest of his life.

Good luck,

Margaret

[Already Bald]

I am not even sure if it is of concern, but I thought I would ask you all.

My husband managed to drop 15 pounds in 10 days. Is this something we need to mention to the Dr?

We are in the middle of round two of 3xBEP, he didn't loose any weight during round one and it was strange for me to hear him tell me this morning he had dropped 15 pounds since the last Dr's visit.

You guys are such a great wealth of information, so thanks for letting me pick your brains!

Becki

Becki,
I think it is very important to share this with your doctor.
The amount of chemo each patiens is given is a strict calculation based on weight and height. Tell your oncologist so the prescription levels can be adjusted.
Joe

[mercyriver]

Thanks Joe,

That is exactly the kind of information I was looking for....that is something that will motivate my husband to be honest with the Dr's. Last thing he would want is to much chemo...



Becki

[mstlyn]

Becki,
I think it is very important to share this with your doctor.
The amount of chemo each patiens is given is a strict calculation based on weight and height. Tell your oncologist so the prescription levels can be adjusted.
Joe

Good call Joe! I would be concerned if my son suddenly dropped that much weight , but I didn't even think about the weight and chemo dose aspect.

[dadmo]

I have to agree. That's a great catch on Joe's part.

[mercyriver]

Honestly they could be doing that, but my husband has a hard time sharing much of anything regarding chemo with me. And with four kids to take care of during the day, I only get a chance to go with him on the days he has an actual Dr's appointment and then I only get to stay for the appointment, not for his chemo session. Thankfully his family has been coming and sitting with him two out of the five days.

He still seems very down about all of this. As to be expected....I just kind of wish sometimes he had the "we're going to kick this in the booty" type of an outlook. Right now he is just mad and a bit depressed about it all. Even his sense of humor seems to have waned a bit.

Can't wait until we are done with all this!!!!!

Becki

[boyce]

Attitude

My wife and I went through very similar emotions as you and your husbnd. She wanted to get excited and "kick cancer's ass". I just wanted to get through another day and another treatment.

Please give your hubby a wide berth here, as the steroids combined with the regular physical and emotional burden are definitely attitude changing.

Going to treatment: being committed to beating this disease is enough, the patient doesn't have to be excited or "up" about it.

The man you married will be back soon, and he'll have have a whole new appreciation for you and the kids. I certainly felt that about my wife and son.

[mercyriver]

I just wanted to assure people, by no means am I jumping around being super positive about beating this.

I've learned after 6 years of being married it is easiest to match my husbands emotions. It doesn't do any good for anyone most of the time to be overly positive, because it only comes off as being a fake emotion, usally brought on by stress and uncertinty.

Plus if my husband is down he really does not like it if people are all walking around with fake smiles and attitudes saying everything will be alright. I just provide a gentle hug and verbal assurance that it will get better.

So like I said, I don't try to overwhelm my husband by being extreme in any direction, I just do my best to match his emotion and add a little support to it as best I can.

Becki