need advise - loosing weight

VictoriaSF · April 2012

Hello, I hope i can get some advise.
i am usually post on ovarian cancer board, but this time i am asking for an advise for my friends.
He is 65, 7 years ago he had colon cancer, but it was on very early stage, he even did not have chemo, but last december cancer came bacl and now it was with mets - all over.
He had surgery and now have started chemo - he will have 6 treatments - i do not know the names - but it is combo of two meds - every 3 weeks.
he is not feeling well - all the regular chemo side effects,
but biggest concern - he is loosing lots of weight, actually he started to loose weight after surgery, he has pretty much constan diarhea. and lots of pain - doctors said - pain - is after surgery, it can be bowel adhesion, but they can not figure out diarhea and weight loss. did anybody have sim condition? any tips, advises?
he eats ok, no issues with appetite. Also - i forgot to mention - he had re-section during surgery and approxim 4.5 " of his bowel was removed.
thank you
Victoria

smokeyjoe · April 2012

Did you say Dr.'s can't
Did you say Dr.'s can't figure out the diarrhea?? If he's on chemo. for colon cancer, like Folfiri it will give him diarrhea. There are over the counter meds. for that. He should ask his doctors what to take. After colon resection too it takes a while for the rest of your colon to start to work properly again, my surgeon told me it may take some time. But, he should really contact his doctor and ask about immodium. His weight loss may be a result of this diarrhea too. Prior to every chemo. treatment they weigh you as the amount of chemo. you get is based on your weight, so where he is getting chemo. they should be aware of this weight loss and taking note of it.

janderson1964 · April 2012

Diarrhea is ver common. I
Diarrhea is ver common. I have been fighting it for over six years. The surgeries have a lot to do with it. Chemo can cuse it too. The doctor should be talking to him about immodium and drinking LOTS of fluids.

VictoriaSF · April 2012

janderson1964 said:
Diarrhea is ver common. I
Diarrhea is ver common. I have been fighting it for over six years. The surgeries have a lot to do with it. Chemo can cuse it too. The doctor should be talking to him about immodium and drinking LOTS of fluids.

thank you so much for reply
Hello,
thank you so much for reply,
yes - he started to have diarhea after surgery and it is continue now,
he lost lots of weight , even had to buy new clothing.
i will tell him to talk to the doctor about medications to stop it.
thanks again
victoria

pepebcn · April 2012

VictoriaSF said:
thank you so much for reply
Hello,
thank you so much for reply,
yes - he started to have diarhea after surgery and it is continue now,
he lost lots of weight , even had to buy new clothing.
i will tell him to talk to the doctor about medications to stop it.
thanks again
victoria

My hospital is sending me a box of fresburine or Resurce
every 15 days , high protein and caloric shakes , only for medical use , I'm having two a day , no weight loose !.
Hugs!

pete43lost_at_sea · April 2012

go the protein shake
It might sound crazy but I try and do a walk everyday and some resistance weights training as well. Building muscle not loosing it may help. A good Naturopath with probiotics may also help.
Hugs,
Pete

smokeyjoe · April 2012

pete43lost_at_sea said:
go the protein shake
It might sound crazy but I try and do a walk everyday and some resistance weights training as well. Building muscle not loosing it may help. A good Naturopath with probiotics may also help.
Hugs,
Pete

Like Pepe said there are
Like Pepe said there are weight gainer drinks, you can find them in supplement stores too, protein shakes with lots of extra calories if you look for the ones with weight gainers.

westie66 · April 2012

smokeyjoe said:
Like Pepe said there are
Like Pepe said there are weight gainer drinks, you can find them in supplement stores too, protein shakes with lots of extra calories if you look for the ones with weight gainers.

Diarrhea
Hi: I, too, suffer badly from diarrhea induced by irenotecan and 5FU. They tried me on the BRAT diet (bananas, white rice, applesauce, dry white toast) but that didn't work. Imodium didn't work either. So I'm on lomotil (prescription) which helps. You have to stay hydrated. Fortunately I love Ensure and smoothies. But I did lose about 10 lbs right off the bat. I'm on folfirinox again and fighting diarrhea. I've decided just to go with it! It lasts 3-5 days for me and is a drag but nothing much seems to work.
Cheryl

danker · April 2012

victoria sf
Diarrhea causes much weight loss. Tell him to drink lots of fluids,and ask his doc for lomotil. I normally weigh 65 kilo(143lbs), got down to 115 lbs. Now after surgery,ileostomy , and self healed fistula am back to normal weight. Tell him to not be afraid it will all work out.
My best to both of you.

traci43 · April 2012

hmmm..
Could be the chemo could be the surgery. Where did the colon resection take place? The descending colon is where all the water is removed so if that's the part that was removed, he may have problems there. A friend who had ovarina cancer and a colon resection due to mets on the colon sure did. For chemo, FOLFOX (5FU and oxaliplatin) some folks have diarrhea others don't, I didn't I got constipated because I wouldn't drink water with the pump in. With FOLFIRI (5-FU and Irinotecan) I did get diarrhea after the 4th round, and had to get a 1/2 dose of irinotecan to keep it under control.

joemetz · April 2012

weight
i take immonium a few times a day and it works for me.

also, the protein or boost drinks are a big help. I drink one of those each morning with 2-4 pieces of toast and try to eat a banana with that little snack/meal.

others mentioned lots of liquids.... it gets hard sometimes, but i keep buying different kinds of liquids such as the various V8 juice drinks as well as vitamin water and other drinks.

you & yours are in my thoughts this week.

need advise - loosing weight

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