RELATION OF WEIGHT GAIN WITH CANCER

In most cancer cases, weight loss is an evident symptom. However, some people experience the opposite and gain more weight than the ones they already carry and do so to an abnormal degree. Some may mistake weight gain due to hormonal imbalance, as this symptom can be very rare in cancer cases.

However, in most cases, this is a post symptom of cancer treatment. Studies show how more than half of women who undergo breast cancer treatment gain extra pounds. However, gaining weight may be linked to negative or not so good results while under treatment.

Also, worthy of consideration is how the excess weight may be a side effect of medicines taken, such as taking steroids. Some chemo drugs might also cause the retention of extra fluids, or what is medically known as edema. Which definitely increases the patient’s body weight to a noticeable degree.

It can also be attached to symptoms of anxiety and distress while under treatment as some patients tend to eat more when they’re anxious or trying to get over nausea symptoms. Also, as a common side effect of steroids, eating can prevent nausea and allergic reactions that come with many chemotherapies. Some just tend to eat to make up for their loss of energy but then become inactive, thus results in weight gain.