Some people find they do not lose weight during treatment. They may even gain weight. This is particularly true for those with breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer who are taking certain medicines or who are on hormone therapy or chemotherapy.

If you notice you are gaining weight, tell your doctor so you can find out what may be causing this change. Sometimes, you gain weight because certain cancer-fighting drugs cause your body to hold on to extra fluid. If this is the case, your doctor may ask you to talk with a registered dietitian for help with limiting the amount of salt you eat. This is important because salt causes your body to hold extra water. Your doctor may also want to prescribe a diuretic or "water pill". This is a medicine that causes your body to get rid of excess fluid.

Over half of the women with a breast cancer diagnosis may gain rather than lose weight during treatment. Because of this, many of the recommendations for breast cancer patients include a lower fat, reduced-calorie diet much like those suggested for patients after cancer treatment has been completed.

Weight gain may also be the result of increased appetite and food intake and decreased physical activity. If this is the case and you want to stop gaining weight, here are some tips that can help:

• Try to walk daily as tolerated and if OK with your doctor.
• Limit portion sizes of foods eaten.
• Include plant-based foods like vegetables, whole grains, fruits, beans, and peas in your diet.
• Choose lean meats (lean beef or pork trimmed of fat, chicken without skin) and low-fat dairy products (skim or 1% milk, light yogurt).
• Cut back on added butter, mayonnaise, sweets, and other extras.
• Choose low-fat and low-calorie cooking methods (broiling, steaming).
• Limit high-calorie snacks between meals.
• Include activities that will help relieve your stress.
• Talk to a registered dietitian for more guidance.

Revised: 02/04/2008