 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | In my non medical opinion our weight loss is multifaceted resulting from perhaps a combination of the effects of chemo, radiation and the mental aspect of cancer. Both the radiation and chemo damage cells and the radiation damages both healthy as well as cancerous ones so in this regard our body is expending energy to repair itself. I assume it's also expending energy to fight the cancer in the first place. I also believe that we expend an amount of energy dealing with all the mental issues that cancer brings. The physical damage speaks for itself but that doesn't explain why PEG users sometimes loose as much weight as non PEG users. I have heard that the radiation changes our metabolism so hopefully Gary can address that as I can't understand how radiation could do that but I do still find it easier to maintain my weight now compared to pre TX.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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