CancerCompass message board discussion started by DalMomma on 2/12/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20876,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello,I am trying to help my grandfather who had esophageal cancer.  He had surgery in late July to remove it. He was in the hospital for about a month afterwards. He is not eating much and is still on a feeding tube. He is very weak. He seems to be giving up. I don't know how to help him to eat.Can anyone offer suggestions? me. DalMomma Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 2/12/2008 DalMomma wrote:Hello,I am trying to help my grandfather who had esophageal cancer.  He had surgery in late July to remove it. He was in the hospital for about a month afterwards. He is not eating much and is still on a feeding tube. He is very weak. He seems to be giving up. I don't know how to help him to eat.Can anyone offer suggestions? me. Without knowing a little bit more, like your grandfathers age, general health before surgery, and whether he is having any chemo or radiation treatments, it's hard to give any advice. I'm reluctant to give advice in any case. I'm a survivor not a doctor.However, I know they won't do the surgery if a person is not in generally good shape. With that in mind, I'll tell you what worked for me.I had an esophagogastrectomy (esophagectomy) in mid-2005, at the age of 54. After coming home, I had to find what tasted good. It wasn't what I liked before surgery. I tried many diffent things and found that foods that were spicier than I would normally eat tasted the best. My sense of taste has since returned to normal, at least what's normal for me. I had to eat very small amounts. I can eat just a little bigger portions now.The best advice my surgeon gave me was to move. I did that and am still doing that. Again, I don't know what your grandfather is capable of, but exercising - walking, jogging, running, cycling (my favorite) - helps in so many ways. It gets you breathing deeply. It sparks your appetite. It just generally makes you feel better. I was afraid that I would not be able to eat enough to cycle like before surgery. I found that not to be a problem.I hope your grandfather starts doing better. Good luck and keep us posted,Steve   Cyclist Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT