My husband was recently diagnosed with stomach cancer--stage3B. He was operated on-removal of a 6.5cm circumferential tumor on the outside of his stomach, which perforated the stomach wall and invaded the lymph nodes, blood vessels and nerve tissue of the stomach. Whether it has metastasized or not has not yet been clinically assessed.
It is 2 months since his surgery and he had been scheduled for simultaneous radiation and chemo treatments. However, he has had difficulty eating because of severe acid reflux. Different medicines have been tried-but to no avail. Since he cannot eat enough to maintain his nutrition and strength, treatments cannot be started. A feeding tube has been suggested. However, just 1 day before the surgery to insert the tube, he changed his mind. Because of the residual cancer in his stomach, the feeding tube would have to be put into his small intestine and would be very narrow. This could cause problems of clogging and possible infection. Hearing all this he decided at his age(81) he just did not want this tube and further--no treatments either.
He can eat breakfast alright but 1 1/2 to 2 hrs later, the acid and nausea start and he can put little else in his stomach for the rest of the day. He has lost 40 lbs since the end of May and just the last 4 weeks has lost 8 lbs. I have tried just about everything to entice him to eat--but nothing works.From 184 he is down to 144. Thankfully he did have some extra weight on him.
He has been given several different medications which have not helped. We have finally decided to contact hospice and now are just praying that they can keep him comfortable and hopefully come up with a solution to his acid and nausea problems.
Has anyone had any similar problems or have any other suggestions as to what I can do or give him to make him more comfortable with eating. Im just watching him wasting away! Please help if you can. Thanks
Anard