Malabsorption and malnutrition? What does it mean for...chemo?

gina171 · May 20, 2016

Sorry to get so morbid here and mention chemo. I DO NOT have cancer, but it does run in my family like wildfire, and I expect that one day I might get the dreaded diagnosis. I am 48 now, hopefully this won't be for at least 2 decades, fingers crossed.

So my malabsorption/malnutrition questions have to do with how does the body of an RNY patient get enough nutrients if -- heaven forbid -- they one day face chemo? I have seem family members really ravaged by chemo (granted, not all of them were compliant with doctors orders and suggestions), and many of these folks were overweight to start, and none of them ever had RNY or any weight loss surgery. So any nutrients they were able to get into their body had a chance to stay there and get absorbed.

If RNY is malabsorptive and creates a Vitamin deficiency in most patients who are tested for these deficiencies, then how is any real nutrition getting to the body of a sick person undergoing chemo and eating very little?

Maybe there's a set protocol between oncologists and bariatric doctors already?

Do you all have any thoughts/experience with this?

Are you living with a nutritional deficit in everyday life with your RNY?

Thanks, I know this topic is a bit of a downer. :-(

gina171 · May 21, 2016

Has anyone asked their surgeons about this pre-op?

If not, I will and I will report back.

:-)

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greennat · May 22, 2016

Hello gina171, I'm a 9 yr Breast cancer survivor and I was required by my surgeon to talk to my oncologist about malabsorption. My oncologist said he didn't see any problem with WLS. He has several cancer patients that are doing well with WLS. God forbid if I have to go through anything cancer related ever again. But it will always be in the back of my mind. I'm due to have my bypass in July.

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