Cancer Survivors Network

I've been through 2 chemo sessions and I wish I had your problem. The first time around I ate healthy, small meals throughout the day and lost some weight (which is a good thing!). This time around I have such a gross taste in my mouth that I keep eating trying to find something that tastes good. So far the best things have been Chinese with a lot of soy sauce, and really vinegary German potato salad.

Are there any foods that *smell* tasty?

Liz in Dallas

I was similar to you with not much of an appetite. If I really tried I could find something which helped increase my sense of food. Be creative on different foods. You can always mix up some smoothies with lot of vegies and fruits, plus add some whey protein to keep up your strength.

When I asked my radiation doc he suggested drugs to increase my appetite, but that's the last thing I needed, more drugs.

Also, eat small meals and drink lots of water.

Hugs,
Jan

I realize we're all biochemically different and therefore respond differently to the same chemo regimen.

Perhaps I was just lucky to have no loss of appetite during taxol/carboplatin.

Or perhaps three supplements prescribed for me helped.

I do agree with Jazzy that whey protein smoothies (with a banana and/or berries in them) are appealing and nourishing. Good brands of why include Designer Whey, Whey Cool, Dr. Mercola's Whey, and a few others. (Look for organic product with no more than 4 g of sugar per serving; Whey Cool has NO sugar at all and is available online. Mercola's tastes a bit better and comes in three flavors but has a bit more sugar content although organic.)

The three supplements that may have helped to retain my appetite were these:

ProGreens (one scoop before breakfast in a glass of water); available online
Fish Oil by Pharmax (one tsp after breakfast, one after dinner, no bad taste at all)
glutamine (one tsp in glass of water three times a day between meals--taken only a day before chemo and the first three
days OF chemo)

Best,
Rosey