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Weight gain and muscle loss

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User
Posted 18 Apr 2025 at 18:40

Hi.


I have been on hormone treatment for 1 year now. I have never been overweight but I have started to put on weight around my waist. I know this is because of the hormone treatment and expected. So question is I am not the only one having this happen. Any good advice on how to keep the weight down around my waist and also how best to keep up my muscle strength and size if possible without causing any issues or triggers to aggregate the cancer.


 


Thanks.


Terry.

User
Posted 18 Apr 2025 at 22:20

Weight gain like that is pretty much standard for those of us who have HT.  You might find you can limit it somewhat, maybe go to a mediterranean diet or include a day of low or fast level eating once or twice a week.


It's also inevitable that you'll lose some strength and muscle mass due to the loss of testosterone and this can be demoralising but any exercise you do will be good for that and won't risk stimulating your cancer. When you finish your HT, return of testosterone will be a great help in bringing your strength back to normal. It's hard to keep exercise up during HT but If you persist it will make it easier post HT to come back to normal.


A couple of other side effects to keep an eye on are increased cholesterol and falling bone density. It's a good idea to ask your GP to test for cholesterol and to make sure your diet is good on calcium. Some people take calcium supplements.


How long are you going to be on HT?


Jules

User
Posted 19 Apr 2025 at 16:18

As Jules said it’s pretty normal to put on weight during HT, especially round the middle. I put on 10kg after 2 years of HT. Don’t beat yourself up about it, if you’re anything like the majority of us suffering various side effects which impact our QOL, you’ll have enough to deal with without worrying about a little weight gain. Since stopping HT 9 months ago I’ve lost 4kg and plan to lose another 4 before I go on a cruise in July. I really only started seriously trying to lose weight after Christmas though, so I’m losing about 1kg a month.


I would say just keep as active as you can, walking is good and other weight bearing exercises. I also went swimming and cycling(ebike). If you like the gym, that’s very good for maintaining muscle…if not buy yourself some resistance bands-they’re very cheap and you can do a lot of different exercises with them.


Not sure how long you’re on HT for, but my advice would be to question how long you need to be on it, especially if you’re PSA results are good. I think far too many men are left to rot for 3 years on this(as I call it) poison, and some of the effects seem to be cumulative….for me joint pain was by far the most serious. After 2 years I questioned whether I needed to stay on it for another year, and my Oncologist was happy for me top stop.


Good luck,


Derek

User
Posted 19 Apr 2025 at 16:38
Keep your eye on your blood pressure. I'm on lifetime HT with metastatic cancer , my BP went up with no apparent symptoms.
I'm on meds now to keep it under control.
Weight gain wise I put on a stone and a half in the first few months but managed to maintain that weight for the last few years due to doing a lot of walking.
User
Posted 19 Apr 2025 at 16:45
As above I’m on lifetime Decapeptyl with advanced disease. Knee and joint pain has been the worse thing but I walk every day. I’m 4 1/2 years in and have put on a stone now. Also slightly high BP. The medicine that is saving me is I guess also causing loads of problems. I’ve joined the gym with my nipper and go 4 times a week. Mainly cardio with no weight bearing which seems fine. No weight loss though. Keep as active as you can is the best advice
User
Posted 22 Apr 2025 at 19:43

Hi Terry,


Yes, it’s an ongoing nightmare isn’t it. The weight gain and muscle loss is only part of the story. I’m pretty active, daily long walks and now an allotment and I have a sensible diet but I’ve put on 10-15kg!!! I find it particularly depressing that whatever I do I can’t get myself any fitter or leaner, if anything regular activities get increasingly difficult.


I’m 2 years on Prostap with one year to go.  Hot sweats every 2 hours, wakes me up each time at night making me get up for a pee. Added to Prostap induced fatigue makes me permanently knackered. 


And as HT continues, my feet are aching more and more to the point where I shuffle around the house much to the amusement of my family (worse after getting up out of bed or after a rest). I worry that this pain might get worse, I won’t be an happy bunny if it seriously begins to impact my mobility. 


Not to mention the impact on my private bits!



When I wake up, usually in a pool of sweat, my hands and fingers are tingling with pins and needles.


When I have a few too many beers or a night on the vino, it can often totally wipe me out the next day - in a different way to a regular hangover.


And I’m sure I get brain fog - maybe that’s just me naturally going doo-ally 😬.


I call it Prostap hell! My radical treatments of chemo, brachy and EBRT all now seem to have been a doddle compared to this.


My advice, for what it’s worth is to be active and stay positive. Afterall, this is supposed to be the thing that is making our roads to recovery 🤔. And, to answer the question, I’ve no idea how to loose the HT belly or puppy fat.


Good luck with it and all the best,


Spongebob

 
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