Not Eating during Chemo - help!

I currently have 7 weeks of my 18 weeks of chemo left.  I go weekly to chemo.  My taste buds are burnt.  I can only eat bananas and I drink carnation instant b'fast shakes.  I have tried everything to eat, trust me everything and I just can't stomach eating much.  I do take a multivit. and B-6, and I have added Ensure to drink so I get more nutrients.  I don't really think there is much I can do, but I was wondering if anyone else is have as much trouble as I am with eating.  I'm on Taxatere and Carbo.  Thank you for any help you can give.

You're on some tough meds. Carboplatin is known for doing a number on your taste buds. As a nutritionist I would recommend that you try sour or tart foods and maybe a citrus marinade on meats. Make sure you are using your anti-nausea medications before meals and try to eat often. Also the best thing you could do is to find out if your cancer center has a dietitian/nutritionist that you can consult. I wish you well. Just a few more weeks!

My husband is going through the same deal with the taste buds.  He has found that he can tolerate a baked potatoe with chili and cheese, he eats one every day for lunch from Wendy's.  I have also started adding spicy hot peppers to meals and he can taste the spices so it allows him to stomach chicken.  He too has a real hard time eating, and he has been on chemo for almost 6 months now and no real end in sight yet.

If you could handle eating milk shakes, they have tons of calories and by adding a protein powder in them it can help with your protein intake.

Good luck

 

I just finished 18 chemo treatments (carbo & taxol).  I count not eat and lost 25 lbs before starting my chemo so I totally understand.  I can not stand ensure but I tried Boost, I think it comes in different flavors, I had the chocolate.  I would freeze it so it just was similar to a Wendy's frosty.  That was a life saver for me as I could not eat!!!!!!!!!  Also make a shake with bananna, instant breakfast, coconut milk and protein powder.  Let me know how it goes.

Do you have ovarian cancer and if so when was your surgery?

Puna

 

On 4/28/2009 S&SPumpkin wrote:

I currently have 7 weeks of my 18 weeks of chemo left.  I go weekly to chemo.  My taste buds are burnt.  I can only eat bananas and I drink carnation instant b'fast shakes.  I have tried everything to eat, trust me everything and I just can't stomach eating much.  I do take a multivit. and B-6, and I have added Ensure to drink so I get more nutrients.  I don't really think there is much I can do, but I was wondering if anyone else is have as much trouble as I am with eating.  I'm on Taxatere and Carbo.  Thank you for any help you can give.

Hi S&SPumkin,

I’m a cancer survivor and was a caregiver to my
father who battled cancer for 8 years.  I
couldn't find much information on dealing with the side effects of chemo and
radiation treatment so I started a blog, www.CincoVidas.com
 that provides information on chemo and
radiation side effects.

I wrote a post on
my own experience in caring for my father who suffered with the horrible
“metal” taste you are experiencing and a promising fruit that has helped many
patients http://blog.cincovidas.com/could-this-tiny-red-miracle-fruit

I hope this helps.

 

Love, strength and
survival,

Britta