Any suggestions for Preparing for chemo treatments

Try to get your dad to drink at least two Prosure nutrition drinks a day. Prosure is like Ensure but it has fish oil as well. Recent info from Johns Hopkins suggests that fish oil may ward off some of the "wasting" that is so common among pancreatic cancer patients. You can ask your pharmacist to order Prosure because most don't stock it. It's a little more expensive that Ensure.

Good luck and God bless you all. My husband had a Whipple July '06.

He died June 27. SOME PEOPLE MAKE IT. Keep that thought. 

Hi Sandi,

I would suggest getting him on some glyconutrients (from Mannatech).  They are nutritional supplements that will help strengthen his immune system.  I personally know several people who have had chemo or radiation, or other procedures, including myself with a whipple, who take them and they seemed to have really helped.  I credit them with saving my life and keeping me healthy.  There are many people on these boards who have tried them with differing results, but I think they are worth a try.  If he can tolerate milkshakes, they'll help him keep his weight up.  Kim 

Hello,

 My dad was diagnosed with angiosarcoma in April 2007.  He had lost a lot of weight.  After the oncologist devised a game plan to try and control and beat the cancer, we discovered he had to go for chemo treatments.  Like you,  my sister, mom and I wanted to "beef" him up so he was stronger.  Make sure he eats three good meals a day and encourage him to snack also.  We fed him a very healthy diet of legumes, lean meats, whole wheat bagels, bread, pancakes, pasta and more.  Of course we had to be conscious of the mild diabetes and cholesterol etc. , but at this point we felt it was most important to make him gain weight so we cheated a lot!!!  My dad is a very youthful 70 and loves being around the family.  We made sure we had dinner over his house often, as to encourage him to sit at the dinner table with the family and eat more than if he were just with my mom.  IT WORKED!  He has gained almost 14 lbs and feels better. (He needs another 5-8 lbs.) His lungs are clear (thank God) and the tumor in his leg is shrinking.  Radiation is the next step to kill the "monster".   Good luck and stay stong, and positive.   Pray, Pray, Pray.  The power of prayer works  miracles for the sick and those who pray for them.  It puts your mind in a better place to focus on the task at hand.  God Bless you!

On 7/27/2007 sandra13 wrote:

My dad had a whipple for pancreatic cancer in June.  He will begin chemo shortly.  I was just wondering from all of you out there, is there anything you found helpful in preparing the body for the chemo.

I know weight gain for PC patients is a plus. the drs. we have talked to have just said to have him gain weight.  I was just wondering if any of you out there found certain foods or supplements to prepare the body for this upcoming battle.

Thanks so much

Sandi  

Hi Sandi,

I wish you and your dad the best. I just lost my 59 yr. old brother to PC this past April. He had his Whipple a year prior and had chemo as well. Weight gain is real tough without something like TPN (Total Parental Nutrition), which is VERY expensive. While my brother's Whipple was a "success" he did have some lymph nodes (removed) that were positive for cancer. I was with my brother the whole way, and I'll never forget his medical oncologist telling him he was going to "cure him". I knew at the time (never said anything to my bro), and know now, that the Dr. was full of baloney.  That proclamation put the Dr. in an elevated god-like status, that they neither deserve nor warrant. The effect was that it put my brother's life, psychologically in the Dr.'s hands instead of my brother's hands, where I believe it needed to be. The odds are soooo poor on survivability with PC, even though your dad was blessed to be able to get a Whipple (buys him more time). I recommend that you go "outside the box" and try alternative treatments. Chemo ravages the immune system. Check out Dr. Nicolas Gonzales' approach (Columbia U.- NY). If I got PC, I would first try Cesium Chloride (under supervision), and also go to a Gerson clinic. Also look into Hulda Clark, who unfortunately gets vilified as a quack. Her writings on "zapping", parasite removal, and elimination of isopropyl alcholol from our system's is very compeling. Western medicine's success with PC is pathetic- if your dad wants a shot at really living some quality years, go outside the box. If you do, be prepared to hear a lot of static. The choice is his. Please forgive my frankness- God Bless you and your father. Don 

Sandi,

 I was diagnosed with NSCLC in 2004, and told I would be lucky to survive one year.  I began taking AHCC the second week after my diagnosis.  I just made my three year mark in March.  I believe the AHCC had a huge impact on my strength and endurance, and also enabled me to gain weight as well.  I had six months of chemotherapy, along with 52 radiation treatments to the chest and neck.  Quite intense therapy, yet I was able to drive myself to all 52 radiation treatments and also continued working throughout the treatment (only missing some days when the chemotherapy effects were at their worst).  I am still taking AHCC, and will continue taking it for as long as the Lord keeps me here.  I'm not a doctor, but I think AHCC would probably help your Dad alot.  I order mine from the internet, and there are many places who have it. I buy "Source Naturals" brand, but there are many to choose from.

 My only other suggestion... prayer.  I am here through the grace of God.

On 7/27/2007 sandra13 wrote:

My dad had a whipple for pancreatic cancer in June.  He will begin chemo shortly.  I was just wondering from all of you out there, is there anything you found helpful in preparing the body for the chemo.

I know weight gain for PC patients is a plus. the drs. we have talked to have just said to have him gain weight.  I was just wondering if any of you out there found certain foods or supplements to prepare the body for this upcoming battle.

Thanks so much

Sandi