Thanks

melbas
melbas Member Posts: 43
edited March 2014 in Anal Cancer #1
Hi Y'all, thank you for all the support and prayers.I got the chemo fanny pack and the 1st radiation treatment today. So far the only side effects I've experienced is dizziness,dry mouth and tingling in my arms. tomorrow they up the radiation, tho. I got 3 tatooes out of the deal, LOL. I always said I wanted to get one before I turned 50. I'm 49 and now I have 3 X's on my hip area. As I said, today wasn't a bad day, tho I'm sure Ill have some during the course of treatment, but I am going to enjoy the good ones to the fullest. I'm so glad I found this site. It's good to have someone to talk to when I can't wrap my mind around all of this. My granddaught turns 1 onthe 17th of this month, and Grammy wants to be around for a long time. My new dilemna is food. All the items on the "Avoi" list is what I usually eat. No chocolate? No milk? Any suggestions or tasty recipes for the bland foods I am "Alloed" would be greatly appreciated. And my thoughts and prayers are with all of y'all too. Thanks, Melodie

Comments

  • lisa09
    lisa09 Member Posts: 32
    #2
    Food
    Melodie,

    Good nutrition will be very important during your treatment. There will be many days when you will not feel like eating, but you must give your body the fuel it needs. I ate a lot of yogurt because it appealed to me (many things I usually liked did not) and it was easy on the mouth sores. Protein drinks are also a good source of calories (I lost 20 lbs that I could not afford to lose). Good luck to you.

    Lisa
  • lisa09
    lisa09 Member Posts: 32
    #3
    Food
    Melodie,

    Good nutrition will be very important during your treatment. There will be many days when you will not feel like eating, but you must give your body the fuel it needs. I ate a lot of yogurt because it appealed to me (many things I usually liked did not) and it was easy on the mouth sores. Protein drinks are also a good source of calories (I lost 20 lbs that I could not afford to lose). Good luck to you.

    Lisa
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #4
    Hi Melodie--
    I'm glad to
    Hi Melodie--

    I'm glad to hear that so far, so good for you. As for eating, make sure you always include a bit of protein with each meal or snack. Keep yourself well-hydrated too. Chocolate is definitely out for now--it will most likely give you diarrhea. I ate a lot of yogurt too and craved salty foods over sweet (which is SO unlike me!). I ate a lot of Ramen noodles--easy to zap in the microwave and they always tasted good to me. I ate a lot of potatoes, soups, English muffins, mac & cheese. I found meat hard to digest and while eggs tasted good for awhile, they began to taste like metal from the chemo. I had a lot of difficulty eating at about week 4. If your appetite tanks like mine did, then at some point nothing will taste good to you. I got down to 92 pounds and had to force myself to eat to avoid becoming an inpatient. Try some protein shakes if nothing tastes good--I drank quite a few of those. I wish you the very best and hope you'll keep us posted.
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #5
    mp327 said:

    Hi Melodie--
    I'm glad to
    Hi Melodie--

    I'm glad to hear that so far, so good for you. As for eating, make sure you always include a bit of protein with each meal or snack. Keep yourself well-hydrated too. Chocolate is definitely out for now--it will most likely give you diarrhea. I ate a lot of yogurt too and craved salty foods over sweet (which is SO unlike me!). I ate a lot of Ramen noodles--easy to zap in the microwave and they always tasted good to me. I ate a lot of potatoes, soups, English muffins, mac & cheese. I found meat hard to digest and while eggs tasted good for awhile, they began to taste like metal from the chemo. I had a lot of difficulty eating at about week 4. If your appetite tanks like mine did, then at some point nothing will taste good to you. I got down to 92 pounds and had to force myself to eat to avoid becoming an inpatient. Try some protein shakes if nothing tastes good--I drank quite a few of those. I wish you the very best and hope you'll keep us posted.

    Melodie
    Hi Melodie,

    I ate chicken noodle soup, and like Martha said I didn't want anything sweet at all, whereas I'm a sweet food junkie. I know I didn't eat a lot, but I ate at least twice a day. I lost about 25 lbs, but I have since gained it back, in which I didn't need to gain any and I could have stood to lose more. I would eat some of the things on the BRAT diet, to avoid the diarreha, but I mainly ate whatever tasted good. I know my radiologist PA didn't want me to have the diarreha at all, and always asked how I was doing with that. I always drank lots of water. I hope you keep doing well, and keep us posted.
  • sissy310
    sissy310 Member Posts: 300
    #6
    z said:

    Melodie
    Hi Melodie,

    I ate chicken noodle soup, and like Martha said I didn't want anything sweet at all, whereas I'm a sweet food junkie. I know I didn't eat a lot, but I ate at least twice a day. I lost about 25 lbs, but I have since gained it back, in which I didn't need to gain any and I could have stood to lose more. I would eat some of the things on the BRAT diet, to avoid the diarreha, but I mainly ate whatever tasted good. I know my radiologist PA didn't want me to have the diarreha at all, and always asked how I was doing with that. I always drank lots of water. I hope you keep doing well, and keep us posted.

    For some reason I posted but
    For some reason I posted but it did not appear - went to cyberspace...doncha just hate that? I'm glad your first week is going well and hope all weeks are like that. I agree good nutrition is paramount. I've heard this from all my doctors and visiting nurses. Drinking lots of fluids is important too...I learned that the hard way when I dehydrated twice...thought I was drinking enough but wasn't. Now I try to drink 64 oz of fluid a day minimum. I eat pretty much anything right now even though tastes are changing...try to get in protein, vegetables, fruits...I taste something and if it does not work, it does not work and I move to the next thing. Learning to make smoothies now too with bananas, strawberries, protein and yogurt. Have not yet learned the right concoction. I have three red dot tats - I think I would have rather had x's...they are more fun...I am only a week ahead of you so we can compare notes...hang in there, you are doing well. Be well, Marilyne
  • pjjenkins
    pjjenkins Member Posts: 173
    #7
    BRAT - it works
    And use any anti-nausea stuff if you need to. I lost 42 pounds without trying (not me, definitely). I found soups tolerable and the protein drinks. Our cancer center has a nutritionist and I took her session and found it very helpful.

    My daughter's church friends provided a bunch of frozen meals that were good- chicken and pasta are the ones I remember best. Light pasta dishes though!

    Yogurt was good and smoothies.

    My tastes varied over the treatment period too and I needed something called "miracle mouthwash" twice for mouth sores.

    Whether you have diarrhea or not, drink, drink, drink.

    We are right there by your side!

    Priscilla

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