On 7/27/2007
sandra13 wrote:
My dad had a whipple for pancreatic cancer in June. He will begin chemo shortly. I was just wondering from all of you out there, is there anything you found helpful in preparing the body for the chemo.
I know weight gain for PC patients is a plus. the drs. we have talked to have just said to have him gain weight. I was just wondering if any of you out there found certain foods or supplements to prepare the body for this upcoming battle.
Thanks so much
Sandi
I had my whipple in mid-Jan and started gemsar late April. I do not have enzymes so stay on a very low fat diet, which is good as I had gained so much that past few years and am glad to be getting down to my old weight. I ate a stew made from boneless, skinless (2) chicken breasts and all the veggies I could get into the pot. Carrots, celery onion, zucchini, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower,and even frozen peas etc. I ate a lot of fat free yogurt, f. free cottage cheese, lots of fruit and I took a multiple vitamin when I remembered it, about 2 a week! My blood tests have remained very good and I have had 10 treatments now, all they test in the normal range so I think my diet is doing a good job. I do plan to look into Dr. Weil's cancer nutrition course at the U of AZ. He is the head of integrative medicine and I read a little of the course content, but need to investigate further. I am no dietician or doctor tho, so may not understand it all. I stay away from all the "hyped" supplements as it seems after a while many things are found to be of no value or even worse, causing other problems. I like to see the research evidence first, which is why I want to check out the U of A program. I get 2 antiemedics via IV prior to my chemo and I do not have any nausea. I get extremely hard and hurting bowel movements for which I take the stool softeners for about 3 days after each treatment (it varies each week). I also have one really tired day about 3 days after each treatment where I feel like I sleep almost the whole 24 hours. My worst problem has been after 8 tx I started to get swollen legs which feel like they will explode from the inside, red splotches and then swollen ankles. I take Benedry and tylenol and put my feet up for that problem. It does make it hard to work many hours on those days tho, as I can't drive to work with benedryl or lay with my feet up at work, so I have to come home when they get real bad.
I am considering enzymes but don't have much info on them. My surgeon thought it was too early when I asked him back in March and no one has talked to me about them since. When this chemo is all done, I know I will yearn for a beef steak instead of chicken and some real ice cream instead of my fat free sherbet. But, I do not want to get fat again so hope to have changed my life style for good. I don't know if this helps at all and if you have enzyme information I would like to know.