How to manage cancer-related swelling, bloating and weight gain
Key Takeaways
- Weight gain and swelling are common side effects of cancer treatment, often caused by medications and fluid retention.
- While managing weight gain during treatment is important, it's crucial to prioritize overall health and avoid extreme dieting.
- Implementing lifestyle changes like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management techniques can help mitigate these side effects. Jasper's expert cancer counselors can help you build habits that allow you to feel your best.
Though certain cancer treatments can cause weight loss due to nausea and loss of appetite, many people are surprised to discover that cancer can also lead to weight gain.
Weight gain is actually a common side effect of many cancer treatments, and there are several reasons a person could gain weight during cancer treatment. The medications you’re taking, the amount of exercise you are getting (or not getting) and changes in metabolism can all play a role, for example.
If you have noticed that the scale has started to tick up over the course of treatment, don’t worry—there’s plenty you can try to do to manage this side effect. Your Jasper counselor can also help you tailor a plan of action that’s specific to your unique needs—schedule some time with one today if you haven’t already.
What causes weight gain and swelling during and after treatment
It’s important to know that a sudden and unexplained weight gain—rapid-onset bloating, clothes or jewelry that are suddenly tight, or a change of five pounds or more in a week or less—may be a sign of a complication with your cancer or treatment, though this isn’t always the case. Because sudden weight gain could signal an emergency, it’s important to contact your cancer care team immediately and heed their advice, whether it’s to fill a prescription, schedule further testing, or head to the emergency room for treatment.
However, if you’re experiencing slower weight gain, other factors might be at play.
Weight gain
Certain kinds of chemotherapy or targeted therapies, like those used to treat breast cancer, can cause weight gain, as can some hormone treatments. Though side effects from cancer treatments vary from person to person, you can ask your doctor if weight gain is a common side effect of your treatment; if so, you may discuss healthy prevention and management strategies. Your Jasper counselor can also help you formulate a realistic plan of action for how to tackle this pesky side effect.
In addition, some people gain weight because they are not as physically active during treatment, or because eating more helps to settle feelings of nausea. All of these reasons behind weight gain are perfectly normal, and not a sign of a personal failing. Still, it’s important to discuss any weight gain with your doctor, so they can find out what may be causing this change.
People who experience weight gain during cancer treatment can sometimes feel self-conscious about their changing bodies. However, actively trying to lose weight during cancer treatment is not necessarily a good idea.
Because your body and immune system are already under incredible stress due to cancer treatment, most oncologists agree that it’s unwise to deprive your body of essential nutrients through dieting. But if weight gain is a concern for you, there are some steps you can take to maintain a healthy weight during your cancer treatment.
Swelling and bloating
Lymphedema (swelling due to the build-up of lymph fluid in the body) can also create swelling and fluid retention, as can certain types of cancer that cause fluid retention in the abdomen (belly). The latter is known as “ascites,” or a buildup of fluid in the space around the organs. It occurs with many kinds of cancer, including colon, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer. When this fluid builds up, it can cause swelling and discomfort.
Managing treatment-related side effects can be incredibly frustrating. Talking to someone who understands what you’re going through makes a world of a difference. Jasper’s expert counselors have years of experience supporting people with cancer. Get the additional support you need to feel more like yourself.
What you can do to manage cancer-related bloating and swelling
Similarly, if your body is retaining fluid at a greater rate, there are a few things you can do to try and prevent this side effect from recurring.
Don’t let water pool up
Don’t stand for long periods of time, as doing so can cause fluids to pool in the lower extremities. Instead, try to elevate your feet when you’re not actively moving about. Similarly, wear compression garments and perform manual lymphatic drainage to reduce the water retention and discomfort caused by lymphedema.
Reduce your salt intake
Research shows that people who eat a diet high in salt report more gastrointestinal bloating. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends limiting the amount of sodium in your diet to less than 2,300 milligrams a day. To achieve this, try to avoid processed foods and instead cook fresh, using onions, garlic, herbs, spices, and vinegar to flavor foods instead of using extra salt. If you do choose processed foods, look for those with "low-sodium" or "no salt added" on the labels.
The importance of hydration
Try to avoid juice, soda, sweetened tea, or coffee drinks made with sugar and milk, instead opting for water. Remember that sometimes your body hangs on to fluid (which causes swelling and bloating) because you are dehydrated. So drink more water, as counterintuitive as that might feel to you.
To jazz it up, try infusing your water with lemon, lime, mint, or cucumber. In addition to reducing your overall calorie intake, water can tamp down bloating by removing waste from the body.
Show yourself grace
Now is the time to treat yourself with kindness and understanding when it comes to gradual and persistent weight gain and swelling. Your body is going through a lot and needs time to recover before you can address any additional weight.
When you’re ready, start slow. Try different strategies or work with one of our counselors to customize a plan that will work for you.
Sources:
Schvartsman, G., Gutierrez-Barrera, A. M., Song, J., Ueno, N. T., Peterson, S. K., & Arun, B. (2017). Association between weight gain during adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer and survival outcomes. Cancer medicine, 6(11), 2515–2522. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.1207
Rutledge, L., & Demark-Wahnefried, W. (2016). Weight Management and Exercise for Cancer Survivors. Clinical journal of oncology nursing, 20(2), 129–132. https://doi.org/10.1188/16.CJON.129-132
Marinho, E. D. C., Custódio, I. D. D., Ferreira, I. B., Crispim, C. A., Paiva, C. E., & Maia, Y. C. P. (2017). Impact of chemotherapy on perceptions related to food intake in women with breast cancer: A prospective study. PloS one, 12(11), e0187573. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187573
Popkin, B. M., D'Anci, K. E., & Rosenberg, I. H. (2010). Water, hydration, and health. Nutrition reviews, 68(8), 439–458. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x
Summary
Weight gain can be a side effect of cancer treatment. To manage it, focus on a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management techniques. Talk to your healthcare provider or reach out to Jasper for 1-on-1 guidance and support.
See more resources reviewed and vetted by Jasper
Preview our most popular guides, curated and vetted by Jasper’s expert counselors.
How to manage cancer-related skin irritation and dryness
How to find a cancer support group that works for you
A patient’s guide to understanding palliative care