Food for Folfox

I had no problems with food during FolFox.. infact I found I likes spicey food.. but not greasy food.

I craved fish and steaks... and breads.... 

No Ice pops

watch the heat temp of the foods you eat and drink .. not too hot and not too cold.

It was all about experimenting for me.. but I really didn't find anything I couldn't eat.

Good luck.. let us know how it goes...

Donna

As you may remember I'm only on session 2, go in for my third on Wednesday, so I have limited experience. 

For me, fried foods equals horrendous heartburn. My lovely lads brought me French fries the other day, I felt I had to eat them, but oh, didn't I pay for it. 

Chocolate helps with metal tongue. Well, chocolate helps with everything really .

On my good days, the spicier the better. Its great to taste something in your mouth other than metal. 

So far, I lose about four pounds on my bad days, and easily gain it back on my good days. 

It really depends on how your own body responds. 

The ladies from church bring meals in on the Thursday and Saturday after my treatments, I figure if I can't handle it I'll get something easy out of the cupboard, and let them bring in what they fancy. 

I am so happy to hear you have that kind of support. 

staying fat throughout chemo was a special skill I too achieved AAin fact I have tried it three different times and managed to keep my weight up the whole time.

Cyn think of good protein for you....protein provides the building blocks you need to rebuild your healing body....fried food was not good for me either....anything that was comfy suited me....like mac and cheese.  I too think the nibble nibble all day long helps///little tiny meals ....if you ask at chemo I found there were always hand-outs on guidelines for eating on chemo...whatever works for you girl!!!!

mags

I found I was ultra-sensitive to spices (and I normally like spicy food.)  In particular, pepper (standard black table pepper) got to me, and the food tasted overly spicy.  Others couldn't fathom what I was tasting!

Everyone reacts differently, so just try little bits.

Also, be aware that some of us get "first bite syndrome."  It's not common, but if you do get a shooting pain in your jaw on the first bite of food, know that it will subside, and won't recur until you start eating after another break (15+minutes.)  Once first bite has passed, you should be good for the remainder of the meal.  Most people don't have this, but those of us who do or did remember it well!

Good luck, and may your chemo be successful and go easily.

Alice

Coloncancerblows said:

Thank you for the advice. 

Thank you for the advice.  OMG....I hope I don't suffer from constipation like that!  Did your doc give you anything?  I don't know what's worse....that or diaherria.  My oncologist also said chemo is not a diet plan so I'm hoping not to gain weight either. 

I took colace and senna, starting the day or so before chemo, and then through the treatment, until I knew everything was moving right.  You really don't want to have to strain.  Your skin becomes tender, and if you suffer from an anal fissure (as I did) it will not heal until you are done with chemo.  Anal fissures are extremely painful (and mine was one of the reasons I stopped chemo.  Even so, it was several weeks until I healed.)

I gained lots of weight on chemo - it seemed to mess with my digestive tract in such a way that starting at about the 7th round (after which I quit) I gained 4 pounds a week for the next 12 weeks.  I was eating healthier and less than I had been eating prior to cancer, so it was a metabolic change, not a change in diet.

I am not sure if it was from the steriods or what but I could eat anything and everything whild doing Folfox.   Seriously, I ate more while in treatment than I ever have in my life.  I also thought maybe it was because through my LAR I couldn't eat at all and my body was finally saying I had to eat to stay alive. I usally wouldn't eat spicy things but through treatment I craced spicy food.  Just wait and see and keep everyone updated!.  My co-workers were great!  They had a schedule and someone always brought me in lunch at work and they would also send me home with my dinner.  Good luck with your treatments!

pete43lost_at_sea said:

great question, healthy holistic tasty food.

dear cyn,

basically its the perfect time to adopt an healthy holistic diet, the goal is to reduce the load on your liver and improve your biology.

so some juicing, some organic raw foods, ensuring adequate protein.

however all the dietary best intentions fail because your gut is trashed, so rebuilding the gut is paramount. else most of the goodness does not get absorbed.

i am not preaching just sharing what i did and why. i was stronger and fitter at the end of my 6 months folfox then i was at the start.

severe dehydration from folfox almost killed me twice, doing some research and talking to good cancer naturopaths, set the stage for my improving health during this illness.

this is just my experience, above all have healthy foods you enjoy. but a enjoy the foods because i know are good for me, not good tasting. but good tasting healthy food is possible.

of course ask your doctor, i did, she disagree and said mcdonalds, i followed my gut.

hugs,

pete

All hospital dieticiians I spoke with recommnded that I simply eat more during chemo. More icecream, more sugary foods high in carbs, and to sip supplement drinks loaded with corn syru and canola oil etc.

It does depend on the person though.  One thing I had difficulty with was dairy - yogurt was okay.  I am lactose intolerant so that probably played a role.  Eat what you can tolerate.  

Best, Vita