Father Losing Weight On Chemo

mindy10

Hi everyone, I was wondering if you or anyone you are taking care of has lost alot of weight. My dad started chemo 7 weeks ago for stage 4 colon cancer and has already lost 20 pounds and is still losing. Any suggestions on how to get him to gain weight. He is still eating. Maybe not as much as he use to and he cut out all sweets but he does still eat. Thanks and good luck to you all. Mindy

cheil

Hi Mindy, I also am diagnosed stage IV CC, and am about to start chemo next week. I have been steadily loosing half a pound a day, until yesterday when I started snacking on almonds and drinking fruit and veggie juice, now I am gaining weight. To be good to your body I think the trick is to not eat sugary or processed things. hope this helps, Jim.

rthornton

Hi Mindy.

Before I was diagnosed I weighed about 185. That was in May. When I last visited the oncologist I weighed 162, so that's a big loss. But, 160 is the supposed ideal weight for my age and height, so maybe it's not a bad thing. From what I have heard, most patients lose weight during their treatments and then gain it back after they have stopped chemo, radiation, etc. Maybe his oncologist has a nutritionist that could offer some advice. Anyway, I found that after I radically changed my diet from processed foods to produce, and organic foods, the weight dropped but I feel better for it. How is your father's appetite?

Rodney

mindy10

Hi Rodney my dads appetite is good its just he cut out alot of junk food he use to eat. His Dr told him he could eat ice cream and peanuts and stuff like that to help put on weight but he refuses to. Its like he has given up. The tumor is shrinking but that has not changed his attitude. He is so depressed and wont even leave the house now. All I can do is tell him to eat and try to get him to do things but he doesnt listen to us. Its very frustrating. Thanks for the information. Mindy

mindy10

Hi Rodney my dads appetite is good its just he cut out alot of junk food he use to eat. His Dr told him he could eat ice cream and peanuts and stuff like that to help put on weight but he refuses to. Its like he has given up. The tumor is shrinking but that has not changed his attitude. He is so depressed and wont even leave the house now. All I can do is tell him to eat and try to get him to do things but he doesnt listen to us. Its very frustrating. Thanks for the information. Mindy

midnte0708

Hi Mindy,

My father is also stage 4 CC with mets to the liver. He starts his chemo next Monday the 15th. He had his "medport" surgery done Friday and he is completely depressed.
I am curious how bad your fathers chemo side effects are. The doctors told my father it will be so bad he won't even be able to work.
I know the doctors probably give the worst case senerio but curious how many people really experience the worst of every side effect.

Sue

Becky58

midnte0708 said:

Hi Mindy,

My father is also stage 4 CC with mets to the liver. He starts his chemo next Monday the 15th. He had his "medport" surgery done Friday and he is completely depressed.
I am curious how bad your fathers chemo side effects are. The doctors told my father it will be so bad he won't even be able to work.
I know the doctors probably give the worst case senerio but curious how many people really experience the worst of every side effect.

Sue

I was reading your reply and seen you posed a question about what to expect in regards to your dad and his side effects from the chemo. I think for every person it varies and it also depends on what type chemo he is taking. My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer back in January and had surgery in March. That's when we found out the cancer had spread to his liver and it was at stage 4. He began chemo the first of April. He had a treatment every 2 weeks for a total of 4 treatments he was on Eloxatin...his side effects where minimal....but after the first CATScan it showed the tumor was not shrinking so they put him on 5 FU....he has had a total of 6 treatments and with each one his sideeffects worsened. He has felt a lot more nauseas and its taking him longer to bounce back then before. My nephew who has had 2 rounds of cancer told him with each treatment that it usually does take longer....I guess there is more in your system and it builds up but whatever the case I think that is common.
My dad doesn't actualy vomit that much but he feels sick to his stomach. My sister tells him to drink as much fluids as possible to flush it out of his system but its hard to get him to listen to advice. Hope this helps.