Every post should begin with "Thank You Brian". Brian was the one that invited me to join this site and like all of us has helped me immensely.

Thank You Brian

I appreciate the sentiment, but really I am very behind the scenes. It is all the thousands of people that come to OCF and help others on a routine basis that deserve the credit. It is all of you who make a difference in the people that you come in contact with, either spreading the word or helping another patient.

David,

I can relate to your position as well as I am now 9 months post Tx and still 30 pounds lighter. I was diagnosed just about a year ago, 4/27/06, and at that time weighed 185. I lost a total of 40 pounds, down to 145, at a point around 1 month post Tx. This loss also involved a 4" waist loss and required the purchase of all new pants/jeans.

I have managed at this point to put about 12 pounds back on even though I seem to eat up a storm. It puzzles me also and I mentioned it to my Rad Doc back at the time of my Dec. follow-up and he didn't seem concerned or offer any explanation. He felt that I should just relax and get used to the new weight and enjoy it.

I do know that I don't snack like I used to mainly because my taste buds are still screwed up. None of my formerly favorite snack foods taste the same such as Fritos, Cheetos, pastries, etc. and I just do without. I am now addicted to Skittles but they don't seem to do much in the weight gain arena.

I have decided to quit being concerned about the weight situation after all. I guess I stopped and listened to my Rad Doc when he asked me why I was concerned about it. I told him because it had been "normal" for me to be around 185 for so many years. He then asked me if there was anything wrong with my "new normal".

Bill D.

To all,

I met with my MO and the Chief H & N surgeon as preplanned today and asked both my weight gain question. The MO said he had no idea medically why and the surgeon who is mentioned in my article, said "it's a benefit of our Tx" ! That was his medical opinion. He did say that the effects of our chemo Tx are longer lasting in body system changes than radiation. He said that "they" are more concerned about the cancer killing than they are about quality of life issues post Tx and therefore they don't track all of the post Tx side effects thoroughly. He said to enjoy it.

He then preceded to tell me that my blood work today showed my thyroid level was borderline hypo and he put me on a 1 a day .1mg Synthroid. Now if I'm not gaining weight and am able to work 15 hour days with borderline hypothyroidism, I can only imagine what I will be like pushed back to normal.

David - Rick is your age and completed treatment a few weeks earlier than you. He is stuck at 157# and would like to add another 10 if possible. This question was raised last weekend at the Head and Neck Cancer Patient Education Day at Hopkins and most survivors said that they started gaining their weight after 12 months - 18 months after treatment. The people we know from our SPOHNC support group (2 years from treatment end) are back to the weight they wanted to be....guess it just takes time for our bodies to adjust. Or, as my husband says "it took me 30 years to put the weight on, so it will take time to put it back on". I'd love to give him the weight I put on last year from stress! He thinks he looks like Mick Jagger!
ENJOY EATING!

Marty

This is an interesting thread. Even more so after my checkup at the cancer centre today.

I had another endoscopic swallowing evaluation today, and during the exam they weighed me. I was REALLY surprised to hear that I had gained 8 kilos ( nearly 18 pounds) since my last endoscope exam 6 months ago.

That's quite a feat for me. I've always been so skinny that I had to run around in the shower to get wet, and now I'm having to buy new pants...the old ones are gettin a bit snug!

I know I'm eating better, and certainly more frequently than I used to. I was surprised to find I'd gained as much as I had, though
Wayne