Issels Integrative Oncology - individualized immunotherapy for over 60 years
April 23, 2015

Ilse Marie Issels, wife of Dr. Joseph IsselsDear Friend,

Although we do not recommend that you start a weight loss program while in cancer treatment, we do recommend a focus on healthful eating and proper nutrition.

However, know that for some patients, one of the side effects of certain types of treatment is weight gain.

This newsletter will help you to understand why you may gain weight and offers some suggestions on how to stay healthy even while in treatment.

Best Regards,
Ilse Marie Issels
Ilse Marie Issels
Wife and Collaborator of Dr. Josef Issels, Our Founder

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Weight Gain With Breast Cancer Is Not Uncommon – What To Do?

Ilse Marie Issels, wife of Dr. Joseph IsselsWeight loss is a common stereotype of cancer diagnosis and treatment. If you are dealing with breast cancer, it's not unusual to actually gain weight. Factors such as personal and financial stress and the disruption of physical activity all play a part, but there are physiological reasons as well.

Effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy

Some people have a natural tendency to gain weight when treated with chemotherapy and steroids. The cause can be indirect if treatment causes you to enter menopause, which can also trigger weight gain.

An enzyme known as LPL controls the transfer of fat between cells in your body. Estrogen suppresses this LPL activity with fat cells. If your hormone levels drop due to cancer treatment, LPL is able to pull more fat into the fat cells where it is stored instead of burned.

Tips for maintaining a healthy weight

While weight control is important under any circumstances, being overweight can increase the risk of cancer recurrence, providing another vital reason. Here are some principles to consider when developing a healthy eating plan.

  • Basic mathematics still apply. If you burn more calories than you consume each day, your weight will go down.

  • However, all calories are not created equal. A 1,200-calorie-a-day diet consisting of sweets and high-fat foods is not going to do the trick. The same amount of calories consumed in fruits, vegetables and lean protein is a nutritionally sound way to lose weight.

  • Keep insulin levels steady by eating small amounts of low-carbohydrate foods throughout the day.

Our natural immuno-oncology treatment is designed with your personal needs in mind. Visit our website to learn more. We invite you to contact one of our patient care specialists today to chat about how the Issels® Integrative Immunotherapy Program for Cancer may be the right choice for your health needs. We invite you to phone 1-888-447-7357 or visit us online at www.Issels.com.

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