My father, who is 67, had a Whipple's operation in the UK in December, which was pronounced 'a success'. His surgeon managed to remove the bile duct cancer and we were very optimistic. Unfortunately, my dad is having problems eating. Some days he will eat nothing at all. He is very weak. My brother had to carry him to bed yesterday. He says he is anxious about eating as it brings on severe stomach pains and he is often, but not always, sick as a result. He now weighs 8 stone 6 pounds and this is dropping. The doctors have now said that he is too weak to withstand the chemotherapy he was to have undergone.
My brother rang yesterday to say that he thinks that he may not have long to live. I just don't believe that in 2008, someone has to die of malnutrition, especially as the cancer has been cut away. Does anyone out there have experience of such dramatic weight loss, stomach pains and lack of appetite? What foods did people find palatable, and can anyone recommend a diet that would help in building my father up?
Many thankns for reading my post,
Vicki