Dad Has No Appetite And Is Losing Weight....But He Needs To Get Stronger For Chemo. Can You Help?

My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer almost 3 years ago. Thank God he has been given the chance to stay with us longer than we thought. He has already gone through many rounds of chemo, radiation on his spine, and bouts of Tarceva. He has been in remission now for a few months, but stayed on the Tarceva. he recently had to stop taking it because it stopped working for him. He was on uncharted territory though since he had been on it longer than anyone with his condition. So he will have to start up chemo again.

He started having severe pain in his back. To make a long story short he ended up in the hospital getting a stent put into his kidney to drain the "mass" that was found. He also had an oversized lymph (yes the cancer has been in the lymph system already) that was pushing into his urethra. He's home now and doing much better, but he is very weak. He has lost almost 25 pounds with in a few weeks. He has no appetite and is on Zofran again for the nausea. He'll eat some jello and crackers. Every now and then he'll have a little chicken or something, but he just doesn't want to eat. He was supposed to have chemo on Tuesday but he was just too frail so he has to get stronger before they can go through with it.

 My question is what can I or my mother do to help him eat. She is getting him to drink water, gatorade, and boost. Is there anything that you have tried that has helped with the appetite??? I know he can't stomach heave foods. I just wanted to see if anyone else has seen these problems or has them.

Thanks so much ;)

Kristen

Sorry for tour Dad. I can suggest ensure and boost along with milk shakes with carnation instant breakfast added at least they taste good. Good luck. ed

 

Thanks!! Well dad is drinking some boost....when we can get him to. He likes the chocolate one the best. Right now we are in the hospital. He ended up getting the chemo anyway, but it just completely tore him up. He was in ICU for a few days and then was moved to the oncology floor. The chemo gave him sores all in his mouth and throat so they ended up giving him "food" through his port. We are just hopeing that they can get his white blood count up enough to come home. I know we're in the last stages of his cancer. It's already spread everywhere and is in his bones. I just hate seeing him go through all of it. He is such a fighter though and still isn't giving up!!!!

We are in the same position. Would a nutritionalist(sp?)help?

 

On 2/17/2008 kristenL83 wrote:

My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer almost 3 years ago. Thank God he has been given the chance to stay with us longer than we thought. He has already gone through many rounds of chemo, radiation on his spine, and bouts of Tarceva. He has been in remission now for a few months, but stayed on the Tarceva. he recently had to stop taking it because it stopped working for him. He was on uncharted territory though since he had been on it longer than anyone with his condition. So he will have to start up chemo again.

He started having severe pain in his back. To make a long story short he ended up in the hospital getting a stent put into his kidney to drain the "mass" that was found. He also had an oversized lymph (yes the cancer has been in the lymph system already) that was pushing into his urethra. He's home now and doing much better, but he is very weak. He has lost almost 25 pounds with in a few weeks. He has no appetite and is on Zofran again for the nausea. He'll eat some jello and crackers. Every now and then he'll have a little chicken or something, but he just doesn't want to eat. He was supposed to have chemo on Tuesday but he was just too frail so he has to get stronger before they can go through with it.

 My question is what can I or my mother do to help him eat. She is getting him to drink water, gatorade, and boost. Is there anything that you have tried that has helped with the appetite??? I know he can't stomach heave foods. I just wanted to see if anyone else has seen these problems or has them.

Thanks so much ;)

Kristen

 

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Thank you for your insight. Unfortunately I have to say that my dad is now home with hospice. His last chemo treatment ended up staying in his system way too long because of a failed kidney. Now we are just doing what we can to keep him comfortable. He was in the hospital for almost a month until we got to bring him home last Friday. I'm just so glad that he can be more at peace now being at home. Again thanks!!!

 -Kristen

I lost my mum to breast cancer after a small fight of just 5 months 7 years ago and not knowing anything at that present time just listened to the doctors.  I have now found out my dad has extensive small cell lung cancer and he has just started on chemo.  We have been looking onto different products he can have after the chemo as the doctors say he can only have 4 rounds and found various websites which we have ordered products from which he has not started yet but is due to start after his chemo.  These are from gethealthyagain.com and some juices which might help your dad you can get some of these from costco which are Noni Juice, Mangosteen Juice, Pomergranate Juice, Goji Juice. You can buy Goji berries on line from various supliers.  Give it a try cos every thing is worth it.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all and just try and keep your dad drinking as much as possible as well.

 

Oatmeal cooked with water and very little milk can give him energy and is very well tolerated,also homemade thin pancakes. My recipe is: all purpose flour, one egg, milk (diluted with water), a little sugar and a little oil. Mix the batter and pour it very thinly on a pan. Its a very good source of nutrients, I hope it helps!!

He needs to build up.  Please see if he will consume a very good super green powder (Perfect Food is a good one).  Also, put a teaspoon of organic virgin coconut oil in his warm or hot foods.  Query coconut oil in Google and you'll see why.  Good luck...

Eddie 

My husband has colon cancer and the dr gave him megace. It's a hormone that helps alot with appetite and help muscle tone. It made a difference. hop this helps. Princess