No Appetite After Chemo

my dad has colon cancer and he is on chemo(18th treatment) he keeps losing weight (he weighs about 183 lbs now). He wont eat anything hardly and he has a real attitude when i tell him he needs to eat, what can i do/give him to make him eat, he is withering away

Hi

My dad who also had colon cancer had the same problem, and what we found was that if you give him his favourites, he would tend to eat more of those, though the intake was still far less than when he was healthy.  Still, it's better than giving him foods he doesn't like - when he will eat nothing at all.

However, your dad may be developing what's called cachexia, since he's already on his 18th chemo treatment, and if this is so, there is no point force feeding, as you are actually nourishing the cancer cells rather than the normal cells.

Try to give him pure fruit juices, juiced from the actual fruit, and not the store bought type and lots of liquids throughout the day. It's easier for them to take in and digest liquids as opposed to solids. If he likes the fruit juices, give him as many glasses a day as he will tolerate.

The sad fact is that they will eat less and less, and not feel hungry. It's very difficult for the family, who feel that they must force the patient to eat, but it's actually of no benefit, even if they do, for there comes a time, when the body cannot absorb or glean any nutrition from the food, and your are actually nourishing the cancer cells.

The best thing to do is keep him comfortable, and we found that hospice home vists are very helpful both for the patient and caregivers. 

Audrey

My son will not eat during chemo or radiation because anything in will come out.....that is more painful than the treatment.   he ate a few cherrios....like a baby...a few grapes....a drink of water....then the expulsion started, the agoney...gasping...pain....next day he would cut it back to 7 cherrios and no!!! water...while I pushed food toward him.   He is still alive....but I do not force feed....the pain he experiences is nothing any  can endure....I let him tell me what he wants...can endure...it is not my place to dictate what I think is good for him...I shut up ...and be there .......Please God...give him peace....no more pain...if this is a test. of endurance   ..he has passed with flying colors..give him some rest....and the  trophy for trying.....

 

On 8/25/2009 Moparman413 wrote:

my dad has colon cancer and he is on chemo(18th treatment) he keeps losing weight (he weighs about 183 lbs now). He wont eat anything hardly and he has a real attitude when i tell him he needs to eat, what can i do/give him to make him eat, he is withering away

Try popsicles made with real fruit and fruit juice -- I think Welch's makes them.  These were what i lived on the week after chemo

 

On 8/25/2009 Moparman413 wrote:

my dad has colon cancer and he is on chemo(18th treatment) he keeps losing weight (he weighs about 183 lbs now). He wont eat anything hardly and he has a real attitude when i tell him he needs to eat, what can i do/give him to make him eat, he is withering away

There are appetite enhancing drugs such as Megestrol that his doctor can order if you make him aware of this problem.

It is important for your dad to increase his diet/fluid intake especially while undergoing chemotherapy.  His body needs fuel for energy and repairing of cells.  He needs to eat foods that will meet his increased metabolic needs.  Some things you can try :  Liquid nutritional supplements such as Ensure, Carnation instant breakfast etc.  You can make milkshakes using these products and add ice cream to provide increased calories. Try adding protein powder to homemade soups and puddings.  Ask his doctor if you can speak to a dietician who can develop a diet plan for your dad taking into consideration his likes and dislikes.

 

On 8/25/2009 Moparman413 wrote:

my dad has colon cancer and he is on chemo(18th treatment) he keeps losing weight (he weighs about 183 lbs now). He wont eat anything hardly and he has a real attitude when i tell him he needs to eat, what can i do/give him to make him eat, he is withering away

Hi Moparman413,

 

I
totally understand what you are going through. My dad also had colon
cancer and it was tough getting him to eat as well. What helped was
orange juice with Udo's oil (omega 3, 6 and 9) and greens plus, I added
all the nutrition in there and he drank it.

 

While
my father was going through treatment he had many side effects and we
could find little information on how to treat them. I started a blog, cincovidas.com,
that deals with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation
treatment. I did a post on how to keep the calories up when you have no
appetite on chemo http://blog.cincovidas.com/i-have-no-appetite-on-chemo-tips- . I also did one on treatments causing weight loss and things you can do to help your loved one stay nourished as they heal http://blog.cincovidas.com/cancer-treatment-causing-weight-l .

I hope these help.

 

Love, strength and survival,

 

Britta

 

 Hello!

My husband is also on chemo for non Hodgkins lymphoma, So far he has the appetite.  I have asked the oncologist if it was okay to give him  the Ensure drink that has all the nutrients and vitamins.  He said go ahead and give him this drink.  It might help.  I took it myself after several operations and It sure helped me.  It gave me the strength and energy. So I want to say  Ensure sure helped me. They sell it at Longs, or most drug stores and grocery stores.

My best wishes to you and hope this helps in the recovery.

 

Dee

 

thanksguys, im trying to get him to drink ensure. I was thinking of trying to get him to drink protein shakesdesighned as "weight gainer" formula

several thoughts...

1. you might consider a feeding tube... it's a real drag but it saved my life during chemo when i was simply unable to eat anything.

2. also, some health insurance plans will cover nutritional supplements such as Nutren (which is like a turbo-charged version of Ensure), you might want to check with the doctor, since he has to prescribe it.

3. my favorite supplement was Breeze.  you can get the best prices on this and other supplements directly from the manufacturer: http://www.nestlenutritionstore.com/cancer.asp

4. good luck and godspeed!

 WOW, what an awesome mom you are!  If indeed it is a test it sounds like you have also passed!  God bless you and your boy.

On 8/27/2009 jeffsmom wrote:

My son will not eat during chemo or radiation because anything in will come out.....that is more painful than the treatment.   he ate a few cherrios....like a baby...a few grapes....a drink of water....then the expulsion started, the agoney...gasping...pain....next day he would cut it back to 7 cherrios and no!!! water...while I pushed food toward him.   He is still alive....but I do not force feed....the pain he experiences is nothing any  can endure....I let him tell me what he wants...can endure...it is not my place to dictate what I think is good for him...I shut up ...and be there .......Please God...give him peace....no more pain...if this is a test. of endurance   ..he has passed with flying colors..give him some rest....and the  trophy for trying.....