Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 8/8/2006

Question
I am 39 yrs old, three yr breast cancer survivor.  I had mastectomy, chemo and opted out of hormone theraphy due to the side effects.  I am having swelling in the legs, severe pain in lower back(over a year) and pain in my spine.  I am also constantly gaining weight, regardless of the fact that i eat proteins, veges, some fruits, very very little carbs.  Althiough i don't exercise as I should due to children out of school, I do enough not to merit this increasing weight gain.  My oncologist checked my thyroid, which was normal, so she said due to early menopause this was normal and basically nothing I could do.  I have tried everything possible with no positive result.

Any suggestions.

Many thanks!

Answer
This is actually outside my field of expertise (cancer) and I have even problems in controling my own weight! Your dr. is right in that your hormonal (or rather lack of) situation makes weight control much harder, just as some people are better at utilizing the food they eat genetically so that they gain weight more easily. However you gain weight because you put in more calories than you burn. If you can not burn more by doing exercise, moving more etc. your only choice is to put in LESS calories, which does not only mean eating right but also eating LESS! That is hard, I know, but is all I can tell you unfortunately.