Weight Loss

My Mom has Stage IV PC w/ met. to liver.... she has been on Gemzar/Tarceva for 2 weeks now and in the last 4 days she has lost 10 lbs.   Obviously- the desire to eat is being affected and she is quite fatiqued- but does anyone know how much weight is too much before something should be done?   I believe the chemo needs proper nutrition to do it's job-  I'm getting kinda scared....of course it's 'after hours' and I can't seem to get much help w/ the doctor/nurse right now!  Any input would be appreciated

Prayers to all....Maria

 

On 3/14/2007 Hope4jackie wrote:

My Mom has Stage IV PC w/ met. to liver.... she has been on Gemzar/Tarceva for 2 weeks now and in the last 4 days she has lost 10 lbs.   Obviously- the desire to eat is being affected and she is quite fatiqued- but does anyone know how much weight is too much before something should be done?   I believe the chemo needs proper nutrition to do it's job-  I'm getting kinda scared....of course it's 'after hours' and I can't seem to get much help w/ the doctor/nurse right now!  Any input would be appreciated

Prayers to all....Maria

 

Your oncologist should be able to answer that questions and will monitor houw much weight is ok to lose.  Does the nurse weigh your mom everytime that she has chemo?  My Mom is down 50 pounds, she wieghs about 75 lbs now or less.  She did gemzar for about 15 months and tarceva only about a month or so.  We had to quit chemo because the chemo was killing her and not the disease.  Sometimes you have to decided is the drugs worth it??  My Mom wishes that she would never done the chemo, hind site is always 20/20.  But I truely believe those drugs are why she is still here today and still fighting everyday to live.  Ask your Mom if she wants to continue, she can always stop and start up again when she feels better.  It is totally up to her not the the Dr's.  Always remember that.  God bless you and I will pray for you both.

Barb

Maria,

10 lbs. in 4 days does sound like a lot. Today, my mom complained of not swallowing properly. She too is losing her appetite...but, we offer milkshakes,icecream,hamburgers....anything at all that would sound appetizing. She's maintaining her weight so far. Hopefully, your mom had a bad few days ...and will start gaining weight soon. I do notice some days are harder to get my mom to eat than others.

 

Good Luck. Keep in Touch.

Mel

Those are very good points.... With trying so hard to believe that things really WILL get better- It's easy to get tunnel vision.  I come from an Italian family and the desire not to eat has never been there- so it's difficult to understand what Mom is feeling.... we finally told her today that we don't want her to eat- we want HER to want to nourish her body the easiest way for HER.  Knowing that the chemo needs nutrition to do it's job- we want it to be HER decision.  I think what's happening is so many of us are trying to do things for her- she's losing sight of doing for herself.  We did order some Prosure (from the same makers of Ensure- only it is designed for cancer patients) ....it finally came today and she likes it. I would highly recommend it as it has 300 calories per serving.  She also got a prescription for something to help w/ the fatigue and the loss of appetite.  Isn't it amazing- there's a pill for almost EVERYTHING.....................yet we feel so helpless against this form of cancer! 

I almost forgot- I got another suggestion from her nutritionist-  if chewing/swalling is difficult grind up 3 tsp of walnuts or almonds (that's about 130 calories and 13 gms protein) and sprinkle it in a nutritional drink, or on whatever she CAN eat- it adds up and being ground isn't as difficult on the pallate!