My Mom and her breast cancer

ne_iron

HI there. I am a newbe to all this. My mother was diagnosed with triple negitive breast cancer. She has just complete chemo and radiation treatments and was scheduled for double mastectomy. She has been reel weak and she took a fall and broke 3 ribs. Now surgery has been postponed till she heals and get stronger. The problem she said food tastes bad and won't eat. When she does eat, she throws it up. I don't know how to help her, she is getting weaker. I live a state away and very scared. Is it common for the loss of appetite and get sick? Is this just temporary? How can I help?

Primavera

No advice

I just got diagnosed with breast cancer in August (after uterine cancer last year that wasn't bad, no chemo).

I'm going through chemo now but I haven't lost my appetite. I know some people do. Is she all by herself? I'm so sad she took a fall.

Hugs. This is so hard. I have family all around me, and I know if they didn't call me to eat dinner and put the plate in front of me, I would probably not want to eat sometimes. I eat my meals as slow as I can, almost cold, five small meals a day, while watching TV or something like that, so that I don't have any thoughts of throwing up.

Nutritionist said to eat protein, small servings of fruit, chips and hummus, tiny servings of beans, a half a cup of soup, a little at a time.

ne_iron

Primavera said:

No advice

I just got diagnosed with breast cancer in August (after uterine cancer last year that wasn't bad, no chemo).

I'm going through chemo now but I haven't lost my appetite. I know some people do. Is she all by herself? I'm so sad she took a fall.

Hugs. This is so hard. I have family all around me, and I know if they didn't call me to eat dinner and put the plate in front of me, I would probably not want to eat sometimes. I eat my meals as slow as I can, almost cold, five small meals a day, while watching TV or something like that, so that I don't have any thoughts of throwing up.

Nutritionist said to eat protein, small servings of fruit, chips and hummus, tiny servings of beans, a half a cup of soup, a little at a time.

My mother and her breast cancer

She is not alone. She has her husband, but he isn't in the best shape (92years old). I have a bother that is 4 hour from her. I will pass the info to her but she is so stubborn at times. 

Primavera

ne_iron said:

My mother and her breast cancer

She is not alone. She has her husband, but he isn't in the best shape (92years old). I have a bother that is 4 hour from her. I will pass the info to her but she is so stubborn at times. 

I feel for her

I feel for her and also for her husband. These chemo regimens are so hard to take for young(er) people; I'm 58. I can only imagine how hard is for someone older.

This virus is not making things any easier either.

Hugs.

jessiesmom1

Food Tastes Bad

Ten years ago I was diagnosed with TNBC. I had a right mastectomy followed by 4 rounds of A/C and 12 rounds of Taxotere. No radiation. Amongst the many symptoms I had was a complete lack of appetite. I literally ate nothing at all. I called myself "the Incredible Shrinking Woman." Not exactly the recommended way to lose weight but there really was no way around it. My oncologist was, of course, not pleased but said it was far more important to remain hydrated than it was to eat. I really didn't even want to do that but forced that on myself. I bought a cup that had measurements on the side and with great discipline drank the required number of ounces of water or unsweetened juice on a schedule. Sometimes I was able to manage frozen fruit juice bars. As you can see from the first few words of my post that was 10 years ago. I have gained that weight back and then some.  I have also been in remission ever since. I hope my story has given you some hope. I wish you and your mom all the best.

 

IRENE

ne_iron

your advise

I told her the advice i have read on this site. So thank all of you for your help.

Phoebesnow

Food tastes bad

chemo can make food taste different.  Not all food but some.  I no longer liked eggs, watermelon, cold cuts, mayo.  I never resumed eating these foods even 10 years later.  It’s very rare that I find food that tastes as good as before chemo.  I’m never in the mood for anything but sweets now.  Chemo and radiation are very difficult to go thru.  I was 49 and I have never fully recovered.  I am 60 now and had treatment for another cancer since then.  I did lose weight due to lack of interest in food.  I have never regained it.  My doctor said if you only eat cake...eat it...it has milk flour and eggs in it.  I was also sensitive to the metallic taste of the silverware.  I know it’s hard for you...I felt so bad for my husband because there was nothing that he could do to help me feel better.  

anniemshe

Taste

Yes our taste buds go haywire... I think many experience that and it's very common. Like Irene, I was advised to drink any liquid I could and not to worry too much about the food intake. That's what worked for me. Sending prayers and positive thoughts for your mum. 

ne_iron

Prayers

I want to thank all of you for your input and prayers. It does help. Thank you