Looking for suggestions to help gain weight while on chemo....

believer23
believer23 Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello,
This is my first posting - I am a caregiver for my mother (age-75) who is battling stage 3
colon cancer. She has completed 6 of her 12 treatments but is now having problems with
nausea and lack of appetite. Before her surgery her weight was 142 -today she is at 128 -
Height - 5ft. 8 in. tall so she doesn't have alot of weight to lose. She has started drinking Boost but I'm concerned.

Comments

  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    weight gain
    as long as she's using Boost as additional meals, not as replacement meals! Also, you can use the vanilla boost in recipes that call for milk that will add additional calories. Smoothies made with boost and fruit can add tasty calories. Her onc can prescribe medicine that will increase her appetite as well and it works really well.
    mary
  • Trapbear
    Trapbear Member Posts: 108 Member
    msccolon said:

    weight gain
    as long as she's using Boost as additional meals, not as replacement meals! Also, you can use the vanilla boost in recipes that call for milk that will add additional calories. Smoothies made with boost and fruit can add tasty calories. Her onc can prescribe medicine that will increase her appetite as well and it works really well.
    mary

    I would try not to rely too
    I would try not to rely too much on boost, ensure, etc. They are full of high fructose corn syrup, sugar, no nutrients. Our oncology nutritionist calls them "cancer fertilizer". He is always amazed when he sees oncology pts in the hospital getting boost and ensure. Better to rely on healthier foods, whole grains, beans, vegetables, good fats, etc.
    Bill
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Weight
    Ensure is another drink that gives her the nutrients she needs. My hubby liked the chocolate. Tell the oncologist that she has a lot of nausea and he can change up her nausea med at infusion time. I don't know what she is getting but my hubby had an IV of Anzamet at infusion time prior to the Oxi and Avastin and he did not experience any nausea and never lost his appetite. He did not have to take nausea pills at home before or after infusions. Many people do. There are lots of nausea medications out there and people on the board have used many different types. As far as appetite, at this point, if it were me, my opinion only, I would just give her anything that she has a taste for. Get the old Betty Crocker Cookbook out and there is a recipe for baked custard (very, very easy). George found this went down particularly well after surgery and I often made it during his chemo. It is very creamy, very easy to make, and has no junk in it like box pudding. Just a thought.

    If weight continues to be a probelm ask for a referral to a nutritionist.

    Take care - Tina
  • Hatshepsut
    Hatshepsut Member Posts: 336 Member
    Trapbear said:

    I would try not to rely too
    I would try not to rely too much on boost, ensure, etc. They are full of high fructose corn syrup, sugar, no nutrients. Our oncology nutritionist calls them "cancer fertilizer". He is always amazed when he sees oncology pts in the hospital getting boost and ensure. Better to rely on healthier foods, whole grains, beans, vegetables, good fats, etc.
    Bill

    More Information, Please
    Bill:

    Yours in another interesting post.

    I've had my husband on a low-fat, low-sugar diet for a very long time. His current serious recurrence and weight loss has, however, panicked me. In my rush to stop his weight loss, I've continued the Boost/Ensure regimen that started for him in the hospital. Actually, I've upped the ante by turning to the Boost/Ensure Plus with more calories and fat. Boost/Ensure has the advantage for my husband of being fairly easy to tolerate.

    Also, I've moved from our vegan diet to full fat cheeses, organic eggs and some fish for him (salmon and tuna). In the last week, with the increase in fat in his diet (and the addition of a medicine the oncologist gave us to increase his appetite), I'm glad to say that his weight has stabilized and even increased a bit.

    I've been concerned about the sugars in the Boost/Ensure supplement and now your post quoting your nutritionist about "cancer fertilizer" raises my concerns again.

    Can you share some more of his/her suggestions for healthy and safe weight gain? Is there some kind of healthy, perhaps home-made alternative to Boost/Ensure--high in calories but easy to tolerate?

    Hatshepsut
  • Trapbear
    Trapbear Member Posts: 108 Member

    More Information, Please
    Bill:

    Yours in another interesting post.

    I've had my husband on a low-fat, low-sugar diet for a very long time. His current serious recurrence and weight loss has, however, panicked me. In my rush to stop his weight loss, I've continued the Boost/Ensure regimen that started for him in the hospital. Actually, I've upped the ante by turning to the Boost/Ensure Plus with more calories and fat. Boost/Ensure has the advantage for my husband of being fairly easy to tolerate.

    Also, I've moved from our vegan diet to full fat cheeses, organic eggs and some fish for him (salmon and tuna). In the last week, with the increase in fat in his diet (and the addition of a medicine the oncologist gave us to increase his appetite), I'm glad to say that his weight has stabilized and even increased a bit.

    I've been concerned about the sugars in the Boost/Ensure supplement and now your post quoting your nutritionist about "cancer fertilizer" raises my concerns again.

    Can you share some more of his/her suggestions for healthy and safe weight gain? Is there some kind of healthy, perhaps home-made alternative to Boost/Ensure--high in calories but easy to tolerate?

    Hatshepsut

    Our nutritionist highly
    Our nutritionist highly recommended Rebecca Katz's book "The Cancer Fighting Kitchen" She also has a book "One Bite at a Time". We actually took a class this past weekend where she was a speaker and gave a cooking demo, talked about nutrition and cancer. We got a copy of her book and are going to try adding some of her recipes to our repertoire. It will be a an adjustment, basically no dairy, no eggs, no sugar, no "white" grain, no meat. Fish high in omega 3 is ok. The key is phytonutrients, eat the rainbow, etc. As far as adding good calories, she suggests layering...for example, serve whole grain crackers with avocado, other high calorie good fat (omega 9 or omega 3) fats. She is a wonderful speaker, worth seeing if she is ever in your city.....
    Here is a link to her latest book....
    http://rebeccakatz.com/books/cancer_fighting_kitchen.html

    Good luck!
    Bill
  • Paula G.
    Paula G. Member Posts: 596
    geotina said:

    Weight
    Ensure is another drink that gives her the nutrients she needs. My hubby liked the chocolate. Tell the oncologist that she has a lot of nausea and he can change up her nausea med at infusion time. I don't know what she is getting but my hubby had an IV of Anzamet at infusion time prior to the Oxi and Avastin and he did not experience any nausea and never lost his appetite. He did not have to take nausea pills at home before or after infusions. Many people do. There are lots of nausea medications out there and people on the board have used many different types. As far as appetite, at this point, if it were me, my opinion only, I would just give her anything that she has a taste for. Get the old Betty Crocker Cookbook out and there is a recipe for baked custard (very, very easy). George found this went down particularly well after surgery and I often made it during his chemo. It is very creamy, very easy to make, and has no junk in it like box pudding. Just a thought.

    If weight continues to be a probelm ask for a referral to a nutritionist.

    Take care - Tina

    Do you juice
    You might try juicing. It will give her lots of nutrients and may taste good to her. I agree with Tina about talking to the Onc about the nausea. Also you may want to try talking to a nutritionist they can offer tips that are good for her. Paula
  • Hatshepsut
    Hatshepsut Member Posts: 336 Member
    Trapbear said:

    Our nutritionist highly
    Our nutritionist highly recommended Rebecca Katz's book "The Cancer Fighting Kitchen" She also has a book "One Bite at a Time". We actually took a class this past weekend where she was a speaker and gave a cooking demo, talked about nutrition and cancer. We got a copy of her book and are going to try adding some of her recipes to our repertoire. It will be a an adjustment, basically no dairy, no eggs, no sugar, no "white" grain, no meat. Fish high in omega 3 is ok. The key is phytonutrients, eat the rainbow, etc. As far as adding good calories, she suggests layering...for example, serve whole grain crackers with avocado, other high calorie good fat (omega 9 or omega 3) fats. She is a wonderful speaker, worth seeing if she is ever in your city.....
    Here is a link to her latest book....
    http://rebeccakatz.com/books/cancer_fighting_kitchen.html

    Good luck!
    Bill

    Thank you.

    Thank you for answering my post.

    I'll check out the books you recommend. ( I'm a cookbook collector in any event.)

    If you have any other information as you proceed with this dietary approach and you have the time to post, I would be very grateful.

    Hatshepsut
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    mmmmm--scalloped potatoes....or ice cream!
    And, I ate little bits whenever I was the least bit hungry...

    Losing weight is normal during treatment...but keep her eating is also good!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • geotina said:

    Weight
    Ensure is another drink that gives her the nutrients she needs. My hubby liked the chocolate. Tell the oncologist that she has a lot of nausea and he can change up her nausea med at infusion time. I don't know what she is getting but my hubby had an IV of Anzamet at infusion time prior to the Oxi and Avastin and he did not experience any nausea and never lost his appetite. He did not have to take nausea pills at home before or after infusions. Many people do. There are lots of nausea medications out there and people on the board have used many different types. As far as appetite, at this point, if it were me, my opinion only, I would just give her anything that she has a taste for. Get the old Betty Crocker Cookbook out and there is a recipe for baked custard (very, very easy). George found this went down particularly well after surgery and I often made it during his chemo. It is very creamy, very easy to make, and has no junk in it like box pudding. Just a thought.

    If weight continues to be a probelm ask for a referral to a nutritionist.

    Take care - Tina

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • greybeard64
    greybeard64 Member Posts: 254
    KathiM said:

    mmmmm--scalloped potatoes....or ice cream!
    And, I ate little bits whenever I was the least bit hungry...

    Losing weight is normal during treatment...but keep her eating is also good!

    Hugs, Kathi

    instant breakfast
    I never liked the taste of ensure and during treatments there was no way i could keep it down. For me Carnation instant breakfast worked, has all the ingredients of ensure and then some, and its cheaper.
    greybeard
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893

    instant breakfast
    I never liked the taste of ensure and during treatments there was no way i could keep it down. For me Carnation instant breakfast worked, has all the ingredients of ensure and then some, and its cheaper.
    greybeard

    Chocolate
    Chocolate was what I enjoyed and ate. Pudding with whole milk. Lots of pasta with cheese and tomato sauce (Ziti) with no meat. Hard lemon candy for nauseau and works for weight. Ice cream. Fruit juices (grape, apple and pineapple).

    I have found that with my 88 year old mother-in-law that if I ask her if she wants something to drink, she says no thank you. If I pour her a glass of grape juice and tell her I poured it for her -- she drinks it all and enjoys it. (She has had a problem with dehydration - no cancer).

    Good luck.
  • believer23
    believer23 Member Posts: 5

    Chocolate
    Chocolate was what I enjoyed and ate. Pudding with whole milk. Lots of pasta with cheese and tomato sauce (Ziti) with no meat. Hard lemon candy for nauseau and works for weight. Ice cream. Fruit juices (grape, apple and pineapple).

    I have found that with my 88 year old mother-in-law that if I ask her if she wants something to drink, she says no thank you. If I pour her a glass of grape juice and tell her I poured it for her -- she drinks it all and enjoys it. (She has had a problem with dehydration - no cancer).

    Good luck.

    Thank you so much for taking
    Thank you so much for taking the time to response and sharing
    your experience.
    Safe Travels
  • believer23
    believer23 Member Posts: 5
    Trapbear said:

    Our nutritionist highly
    Our nutritionist highly recommended Rebecca Katz's book "The Cancer Fighting Kitchen" She also has a book "One Bite at a Time". We actually took a class this past weekend where she was a speaker and gave a cooking demo, talked about nutrition and cancer. We got a copy of her book and are going to try adding some of her recipes to our repertoire. It will be a an adjustment, basically no dairy, no eggs, no sugar, no "white" grain, no meat. Fish high in omega 3 is ok. The key is phytonutrients, eat the rainbow, etc. As far as adding good calories, she suggests layering...for example, serve whole grain crackers with avocado, other high calorie good fat (omega 9 or omega 3) fats. She is a wonderful speaker, worth seeing if she is ever in your city.....
    Here is a link to her latest book....
    http://rebeccakatz.com/books/cancer_fighting_kitchen.html

    Good luck!
    Bill

    Bill,
    Thank you for taking

    Bill,
    Thank you for taking the time to share this information.
    I am going to the library tonight to look for these books.
    Safe Travels
  • believer23
    believer23 Member Posts: 5
    geotina said:

    Weight
    Ensure is another drink that gives her the nutrients she needs. My hubby liked the chocolate. Tell the oncologist that she has a lot of nausea and he can change up her nausea med at infusion time. I don't know what she is getting but my hubby had an IV of Anzamet at infusion time prior to the Oxi and Avastin and he did not experience any nausea and never lost his appetite. He did not have to take nausea pills at home before or after infusions. Many people do. There are lots of nausea medications out there and people on the board have used many different types. As far as appetite, at this point, if it were me, my opinion only, I would just give her anything that she has a taste for. Get the old Betty Crocker Cookbook out and there is a recipe for baked custard (very, very easy). George found this went down particularly well after surgery and I often made it during his chemo. It is very creamy, very easy to make, and has no junk in it like box pudding. Just a thought.

    If weight continues to be a probelm ask for a referral to a nutritionist.

    Take care - Tina

    Tina,
    Thank you for the

    Tina,
    Thank you for the information - I plan on making the baked custard this weekend.
  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Last year, when I was
    Last year, when I was battling the cancer, I got to a skeletol 90 lbs. I had no appetite, mouth sores from chemo, I could only eat "slippery foods" so it was milkshakes, mashed potatoes and soups. etc..I had an ileostomy and I am convinced that was the primary reason I couldn't keep weight on.

    In one of my hospitilizations last fall, I had to get fed through a tube, it was horrible.

    I'm surprised that no one suggested trying Megace at some point.
  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member

    instant breakfast
    I never liked the taste of ensure and during treatments there was no way i could keep it down. For me Carnation instant breakfast worked, has all the ingredients of ensure and then some, and its cheaper.
    greybeard

    I drank carnation instant
    I drank carnation instant breakfast with whole milk 2-3 times a day, one of the few things i could tolerate. The nutritionist at my hospital preferre this to Ensure or Booste as well.