Diet

My husband is on day 12 of 35 radiation treatments and on treatment # 3 of Erbitux of which he will receive a total of 7.  He has a feeding tube but will not use it and says it is simply too uncomfortable to swallow due to radiation sores.  My guess is he is getting 1000 to 1200 calories a day via Boost and Ensure.  I have tried all kinds of high calorie shakes ..he "does not like the texture" and simply can't swallow "real food" any longer.  Has anyone successfully survived this chemo/radiation treatment for 7 weeks with so few calories.  He is 5'10" and weighs 178 currently.  In addition he is newly diagnosed with MDS and will need a bone marrow transplant in the summer if this cancer treatment is successful and if the registry is able to match him.  We are discouraged. 

He's going to need more than 1000-1200 calories a day. Encourage him to use the feeding tube. It's not any fun, but it will improve his recovery if he's getting enough nourishment. I couldnt wait to get rid of my tube, but for about 2 1/2 months it was my best friend.

Mike

I agree with Mike. Have him use the PEG. I used it for 5 months and it saved my life. It's really a piece of cake and you get used to using it after a short time. Even with it I lost 30 of my 166 lbs though. It's very difficult to get enough calories to, not only sustain life, but also to give you enough nourishment to heal from the treatment.

Joe 

Here's a repost of a reply I did to another topic.

_________________________________________

Don't fear the PEG tube. It was a life saver for me. I had it for 5 months. I was on 2500 calories and day and still lost 65 pounds.

The only down side was hiding it under my shirt. Once I lost a some weight that wasn't a problem. Oh, and a couple of times I laughed or coughed when I had the end of the tube open and I shot stomach contents on to the ceiling :) It was funny as hell.

They're easy to use. I was given a bag to pour Nutrin in and then hang the bag. I tried that, but it was too much of a hassle and took too long.  All I did was recline on the couch, put a large syringe, without the plunger, in the opening and then pour the food in. I'd follow that with 2 bottles of water and be done. I wouldn't take longer than 5 minutes. I did that every 4 hours.

Sorry, but I forgot to add that after treatment is over, is when the real fun begins. Even though treatment ends, you still "cook" from the radiation for about 2 weeks.  I don't say this to scare you, but to make sure you know just how important good nutrition is now. 

Donnadew:

There is an organization I found called SPOHN - head and neck cancer patients.  They will send you a free spiral notebook that is very helpful.  It can really educate.  They also have receipes within the book.  My husband is not far into his radiation, but finding glutamine is probably helping boost his immune system.  No side effects from cisplatin 170 mg dose almost forty eight hours ago either. 

He too has a peg for when he needs it and he probably will.  Losing weight and nutrition is not an option for us.

 

Hi my name is Linda,My Dad will start chemo and rad.on mon.29.2008.What about those high protine drinks or maybe a high protine popstick Take care and god bless please write back and let me no if this works because we to will be going down this road in a short time