Eating

My dad has pancreatic cancer and only started treatment 3 weeks ago, but he will not eat and is down to 133 pounds. He is 5'10 tall. He just won't even try, he says nothing tastes good and he has no appetite. Last night I went over to cut his hair and goatee and he couldnt even stay awake for that. I was so upset I yelled at him and told him he had to eat. I told him I felt like he was giving up before the battle.

Hi:

 

Sorry to hear about your Dad's condition….he will be in our prayers, but try not to yel at him....his reliuctance to eat is a normal side affect of all this.....did his doc not put him on a J-Tube for supplemental feeding? If not, ask your surgeon about this.

 

My wife was diagnosed with PC back in September and had her tumor fully removed in late October….she was lucky in that it was detected early and fully resectable.

 

Because the tumor was against the local artery, some microscopic cancer cells invaded the artery wall, so she’s now undergoing a regimen of radiation & chemo for 28 applications (radiation daily and chemo once per week). When this ends around mid-January, she’ll get 30 days off then start weekly chemo only for the next 6 months.

 

The radiation and chemo is knocking her for a loop at times but not always….she experiences some nausea at times and some loss of appetite, but not always. Since this all started, she lost 15 lbs. but she’s gained about 5 lbs. back in the last 2 weeks and has stabilized so far.

 

In addition to a “normal” and well balanced diet, she is on supplemental feeding via a tube into her intestines (J-Tube). She gets liquid nutrition at night (2-8 oz. cans)….down from 3 cans a night….as her weight further stabilizes and her eating via mouth returns to more normal, then we can back off the J-Tube even more, then eliminate it all together.

 

The best diet is a “normal” healthy one that is balanced between meats, fish, fruits, veggies, grains, etc…..it is NOT necessary to turn your Dad into a vegetarian….in fact, studies show that going that route can actually act negatively on one’s recuperation. Know, however, that everybody is different....what works for one might not work for another.

 

Your Dad hopefully has a team of Surgeons, Oncologists and nutritionists/dieticians working with him in all of this. Follow their recommendations….at times he will have to hold off on some items like milk items and fresh fruits & veggies to better control diarrhea, then when that is stabilized, he can start eating them once again.

 

Chemo and radiation for PC patients does NOT kill the beneficial bacteria in your stomach and intestines….so don’t be fooled by product hype and advertising that you need to reawaken your dad’s immune system with products that are loaded and have pre and probiotics added to them…..

 

The key is “normal”, healthy foods….whatever he can tolerate without getting overly full or nauseas is what will be fine….stay clear of fast foods, and fatty foods (greasy). Fish is a great source of protein and beneficial vitamins…..

 

Hope this all helps….good luck.

 

 

It is very frustrating when someone you love can't or wont eat.  Be Stronge-

Lynne -

 I have stage IV lung cancer.  I have been undergoing chemo since April '08 and have a loss of appetite.  I am 5'7" and started out weighing about 130#.  I now weigh around 110-115.  The best advice I can give you is to keep finger foods around, (fruits are good for me as well as a slice of cheese).  I don't usually eat a set amount of meals each day, but rather do more snacking than anything.  In my opinion, at this point, ANYTHING he can eat is better than nothing.  I had a nutritionist tell me to do this and also to try to drink ANYTHING that had some caloric intake.  It could be the drugs affecting his appetite.  At first, everything tasted like a ton of salt had been poured over it.  Then everything was too hot and spicey, etc.  This all got MUCH better for me and hopefully it will for him as well.  Have patience and make it easy for him to just grab something when he walks by the fridge.  Good luck to you!!

 

On 12/29/2008 lynne75 wrote:

My dad has pancreatic cancer and only started treatment 3 weeks ago, but he will not eat and is down to 133 pounds. He is 5'10 tall. He just won't even try, he says nothing tastes good and he has no appetite. Last night I went over to cut his hair and goatee and he couldnt even stay awake for that. I was so upset I yelled at him and told him he had to eat. I told him I felt like he was giving up before the battle.

hi,

Your battle is just beginning.  My mother finished up with cheom and radiation a year and a half ago and she cannot get her appetitte back yet.  She weights 88 pds and is very weak.  I have talked to a lot of people with cancer and the lose of appetite is very normal.  It changes their taste buds that makes everything taste wrong.  Can you eat when you are very nauseated?  I can't.  Chemo will wipe him out of days after treatment.  He will sleep a lot and just keep him hydrated.  A feeding tube is a thought.  It is not a big thing to get put in and maintain.  My mother and I are not very much alike, and she is used to being the one in charge.  It is and was hard to give up that control.  I can tell you the fighting won't help.  I know you are scared and the stress will become something that is constant.  If there is anything I can do or say, just let me know.  Chris

Thanks for the reply and support, he got down to 123lbs, and ended up being admitted to the hospital. The plasctic stint they put in his belly was infected and causing alot of pain while in hospital they hooked up and IV for 4 days and went in and cleaned stint also put him on antibiotics. After getting out of the hospital he went back a couple days later for Radiation and had put on 20 lbs of water weight. So now he is on water pills and they put a feeding tube up the nose and into stomach. We will see how that works. Again thanks for advice, this is the second hardest thing I've ever had to go through. Jennifer

On 1/11/2009 cr50hr12 wrote:

 

On 12/29/2008 lynne75 wrote:

My dad has pancreatic cancer and only started treatment 3 weeks ago, but he will not eat and is down to 133 pounds. He is 5'10 tall. He just won't even try, he says nothing tastes good and he has no appetite. Last night I went over to cut his hair and goatee and he couldnt even stay awake for that. I was so upset I yelled at him and told him he had to eat. I told him I felt like he was giving up before the battle.

hi,

Your battle is just beginning.  My mother finished up with cheom and radiation a year and a half ago and she cannot get her appetitte back yet.  She weights 88 pds and is very weak.  I have talked to a lot of people with cancer and the lose of appetite is very normal.  It changes their taste buds that makes everything taste wrong.  Can you eat when you are very nauseated?  I can't.  Chemo will wipe him out of days after treatment.  He will sleep a lot and just keep him hydrated.  A feeding tube is a thought.  It is not a big thing to get put in and maintain.  My mother and I are not very much alike, and she is used to being the one in charge.  It is and was hard to give up that control.  I can tell you the fighting won't help.  I know you are scared and the stress will become something that is constant.  If there is anything I can do or say, just let me know.  Chris

 

My husband just finished his chemo treatment for renal cancer..the worst part for him was what the chemo did to his taste buds.."everything tastes like poison" He could get down liquods, and Boost worked Ok for him...nutritionist told us not to worry about actuall calorie count and to eat anything that he could... along with the Boost...He is now (4 weeks off chemo) getting his taste back...Its so wonderful to hear him say I'm hungry. Best of luck and God Bless

Sandy

I am facing the same battle with my brother. He was diagnosed with EC in Sept 08. We have been trying to keep he weight in check with VHC from Carnation. It's a VERY HIGH CALORIE drink supplement. A small can is 564 calories. You can go to www.nestlenutritionstore.com to order it, it is not cheap but it works great when they refuse to eat. You can also try Ensure but the calories are not as high.

Good Luck and God Bless!

Cathy