Nutrition For Stage 4 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer With Non Operable Tumor With Pluerel Enfusion Stage

Priscilla,

there are several good medications now to stimulate appetite....has the doctor mentioned this?  My brother had the same battle with the same lung cancer.  He did say that the stimulants helped some. 

Donna

My father had lung cancer, and I have Stage IV colon cancer.  I enjoyed drinking boost and ensure.  They are very nutricious, high in calories and I didn't think they tasted bad. 

My mom even drinks them when she doesn't have time to eat.

On 8/28/2007 Priscilla wrote:

Please help!  My husband is now down about 45 lbs-cannot eat.  He is on a clinical trial.Don eats several bites of oatmeal with half a piece of toast in the morning.  Lunch is up to half a bowl of campbells chicken noodle soup,and evening maybe a half sandwich blt.  In between dream cycles maybe 7 red seedless grapes.  He does take a centrum vitamin.Does anyone have some ideas or recipes on shakes we can make that is full of nutrition?  Also, constipation  is a horrible expereince,stool softeners,milk of magnesia,metamucil do not work :(Waiting anxiously for a reply,please help.  Priscilla wife of don. 

Hi Priscilla

I use a powder for oral solution called Movicol to assist with constipation. It certainly does the trick for me.

I don't know if you can get it in the States as I live in the UK.

I also have Stage 4 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer and am coping very well. I lost my appetite for a couple of weeks but am now on steroids and this has made all the difference. I have a good appetite and actually enjoy what I am eating.

Regards

Edwin 

  

 

 

On 8/28/2007 Priscilla wrote:

Please help!  My husband is now down about 45 lbs-cannot eat.  He is on a clinical trial.Don eats several bites of oatmeal with half a piece of toast in the morning.  Lunch is up to half a bowl of campbells chicken noodle soup,and evening maybe a half sandwich blt.  In between dream cycles maybe 7 red seedless grapes.  He does take a centrum vitamin.Does anyone have some ideas or recipes on shakes we can make that is full of nutrition?  Also, constipation  is a horrible expereince,stool softeners,milk of magnesia,metamucil do not work :(Waiting anxiously for a reply,please help.  Priscilla wife of don. 

 

 

Have you consulted a nutritionist, Priscilla? I have metastatic breast cancer, have had thoracentesis 4 or 5 times in the past year, had lost about 30 pounds, but now juicing has made a big difference and I have gained back about 12 pounds. My naturopath got me started juicing -- half carrot juice and half blended greens in spring water (about 2/3 cup each). In addition to dandelion greens I add half a turnip, a whole onion, 4 or 5 garlic cloves, and various other greens which may include spinach, cabbage, kale, and/or broccoli. I add 1/2 t tumeric, 2 T cod liver oil, 1t flax seed oil and then I swallow 200-400 mg Co Q10 with it. During the day I swallow vitamin C -- up to 2 grams daily.

A year ago I was half dead. In 6 months after beginning the above regimen, I was driving again. I'm iffy right now because I had a bad reaction to my drugs, but am hopeful I'll get back on track. Good nutrition is a must for all cancers. I hope Don will respond to juicing.
Good luck to you and Don
MaryLynn

On 8/28/2007 Priscilla wrote:

Please help!  My husband is now down about 45 lbs-cannot eat.  He is on a clinical trial.Don eats several bites of oatmeal with half a piece of toast in the morning.  Lunch is up to half a bowl of campbells chicken noodle soup,and evening maybe a half sandwich blt.  In between dream cycles maybe 7 red seedless grapes.  He does take a centrum vitamin.Does anyone have some ideas or recipes on shakes we can make that is full of nutrition?  Also, constipation  is a horrible expereince,stool softeners,milk of magnesia,metamucil do not work :(Waiting anxiously for a reply,please help.  Priscilla wife of don. 

 

I don't know if this works for cancer patients, but my dad was very sick with heart and kidney problems along with an internal bleed.  He lost 75 pounds and we thought we were losing him.  One of the nurses told us to give him Carnation Instant Breakfast (tastes better than Ensure with the same nutrients.) My mom put it in a blender with a scoop of ice cream.  He drank this 4 times a day (was able to eat nothinig else) and is now driving and loving life. Hope this helps.

Karen

On 8/28/2007 Priscilla wrote:

Please help!  My husband is now down about 45 lbs-cannot eat.  He is on a clinical trial.Don eats several bites of oatmeal with half a piece of toast in the morning.  Lunch is up to half a bowl of campbells chicken noodle soup,and evening maybe a half sandwich blt.  In between dream cycles maybe 7 red seedless grapes.  He does take a centrum vitamin.Does anyone have some ideas or recipes on shakes we can make that is full of nutrition?  Also, constipation  is a horrible expereince,stool softeners,milk of magnesia,metamucil do not work :(Waiting anxiously for a reply,please help.  Priscilla wife of don. 

 

My wife, Zee, is surviving the same type late-stage cancer --  now on its second year. She's been on Tarceva and  RAD001. 

Doctor's advice was for her to eat and drink anything she enjoys (including red meats and organ meats like liver for iron) to build up her strength. I've prepared smoothies for her -- mostly the family of berries,especially blueberries, canteloupe, watermelon, papaya, bananas, apples. I 'magic-bullet' any combination of two in pineapple juice or other tropical juices or soy milk. Avoid sugar and dairy. Zee does not like Ensure or Boost.

Being the primary caregiver is very stressful. Please look after yourself, too, Priscilla. Not only for you but for your patient who would also be concerned about you. You won't be useful to your husband if you don't look after your health. Help from a professional caregiver relieves me from anxiety and practical chores. Since I work 9 to 5, a caregiver comes 8 hours a week to help bathe her, clean up the place,  prepare simple meals  or just to keep her company. It's expensive unless your insurance provides for this service. We live in Canada so the service is free, covered by universal health insurance.

Just last week we celebrated the results of the C-Scan that showed that
the cancer has been rendered inactive with no traces of nodules
anywhere.

All the best.

Jack K