Starting a New Health Journey

Before I was diagnosed with bladder cancer and in the subsequent 6 months after diagnosis I lost an extreme amount of weight. This is very characteristic of most cancer patients. In 9 months I lost 60 pounds. I was entering a stage of malnourishment with threats of a feeding tube if we couldn’t find a way for me to sustain my weight. It was a very scary time. But slowly, I was able to maintain and regain some healthy weight. But about a year later something changed and I experienced rapid weight gain. I regained the 60 pounds and then some.

Getting answers

Before I hit my highest weight I knew something was up. I was active, I ate well, and I never really had an issue with weight gain prior to my diagnosis. I brought up the issue over and over to my medical team, but initially, they were happy with the weight gain. They dismissed it as being sedentary during the COVID shutdowns, and then it was because I was “no longer 21” and weight would be harder to lose in my 30s. I was so frustrated. No amount of calorie cutting or exercise was doing anything.

I sought a referral to an endocrinologist to see if there was an underlying issue. But other than a vitamin deficiency, she couldn’t see a reason why I was struggling so hard. She gave me the option of various medications or even weight loss surgery and I quickly decided that 1) I didn’t want to work with someone whose first suggestion was surgery on someone post-RC and 2) she wasn’t understanding what I wanted to accomplish. I sat in my frustration for a few more months before I decided to give it another try and see someone else about medically supervised weight loss.

Finding the right team to help with my weight loss

I connected with a different office within my hospital’s system and immediately knew I landed in the right place. I was connected with a registered dietitian, a therapist, and a doctor. All asked extensive questions and worked on a plan together to help me accomplish my goals. Get back to a healthy weight and get stronger. My health journey was going to be tackled from all angles.

First, we talked about the possibility of adding a weight loss medication to my diet and exercise plan. I was hesitant, but my oncologist reviewed what was presented and signed off that there were no contraindications or risks. I started on a low-dose medication that would help curb my appetite slightly. The thought is this would be temporary and I relearned healthy eating habits and hunger cues. The medications had just enough of an effect to help me be more mindful of when and what I was eating.

Next, my registered dietitian helped me work out foods I should add to my diet to support my weight loss while also supporting my kidney function. With one kidney and stage 3 kidney thanks to tumor damage, I have to be mindful of what I eat. Our concentration was adding, not taking away. Adding more green vegetables, more fruit, and more lean protein. This had the most profound impact on my health journey. Before I saw any change on the scale I very quickly felt better, and it even reflected in my lab work with better kidney numbers.

Surprisingly the hardest part has been getting more active. Before my diagnosis, I was very active. I danced, hiked, swam, and lifted weights. I loved moving my body. But I now work entirely from home and I realized I wasn’t getting nearly enough movement in my day to compensate for no longer working in an office. But I started easy. My husband and I took short walks on our lunch breaks. Then I got a walking pad so I could walk and work when I felt like it. I progressed to 3-mile walks every day and then got back into the gym.

A health journey beyond surviving cancer

It has been 3 months of learning to listen to my body and remembering that this is all to make sure I am healthy and strong. Although I have had great progress on the scale, so far I am more impressed by my increased endurance. Every day I can walk farther and move more comfortably. For the first time since my diagnosis, I am finally starting to feel like me again.

It can be so hard to give ourselves permission to pursue a health journey beyond just surviving cancer. But if this is something you’re struggling with or even if it is just something important to you, do like I always say: Make it important to your medical team. Having my oncologist on board with this lifestyle change and a group of professionals dedicated to helping me feel better has truly made this a successful endeavor.