Cea

Trubrit said:

Try to remind your dad to eat

Try to remind your dad to eat cause it's really easy to forget. - sflgirl

I totally agree with this.  I'm an eater. I like food. But there were days when I was on treatment, that I would look at the clock, it would be 4 pm and I realized I hadn't eaten all day. I know there is a gland in the brain that controls hunger (Dr. Oz told me), and I can only imagine that the chemo messes with that. 

So, it may not always be that the food tastes bad, or makes you feel sick, you just plain forget about eating. 

Ensure is a good option when you can't tolerate solid food. I used to make my own version, as I don't trust much that comes in a bottle.

Sue - Trubrit

You are all so corRect . He's not forcing himself at all .

and so losing lot weight . Its like he was much better before the chemo but then I'm also

worried that could it b the cancer spreading that's doing all this  

Trubrit said:

Cancer spread

So far, everything you have said about your dad's condition, corresponds to chemo side effects. 

For the most part, Cancer doesn't spread so much during treatment. Hopefully the tumours shrink away to nothing, sometimes they stay around, and sometimes they spread. Lets just say, that sometimes all the chemo does is contain the spread, or growth.

Try not to spend your time worrying. I know, that is hard. I had to LEARN not to worry. It took practice. Worrying will not change the situation, and if your father knows you are worrying, then it won't help him. He needs to know you are there for him in a positive way. 

Here is something that worked for me. Give it a try, if you think the worry is consuming you. It may or may not work, as we are all different, and have to find what works best for us as individuals. 

At the beginning of my treatments, I would go to bed and all the worry would unleash. I would get to the point where I thought my head was going to explode. I could not go on that way. I decided that I would allow myself 10 minutes of worry, of all the morbid, horrendous thoughts of death and leaving my children. I would cry. I would ask why. I would get angry sometimes. And then, when the 10 minutes was up, I would put on a CD of relaxing music, or a guided imagry CD, and let it all go. It worked for me. It works for me today. 

Just an idea.  Remeber, your dad needs to focus on himself and not worry' about you worrying yourself at every trun. 

I am glad that you found this forum. I know you will gain allot of strenght and knowledge from the wonderful people here. 

Sue - Trubrit

sue, thanks so much . ur right u need to stop this worry as it's driving me mad . I hve a 5 year old and a 11 month old and sometimes i feel my head will explode .

initially he was a stage 3 and then disaster mets arrived ! Also 1 chemo already failed , irinotecan , and now I think none can work and also seeing these effects it's horrible and I think what's going on . I hate how much weight he has lost cuz of appetite issues and drehydration on top.

NewHere said:

Not Sure If You Saw My Answer

To this question (eating) in the other thread from yesterday, but it as others said

 

##########

 

I am losing weight also

I am also losing weight and not eating much, more so during the first week.  It may be something where you may have to remind or encourage him to drink more, paritcularly if he was not one to drink much water to begin with.  During the chemo I am behaving the same way, not horribly nauseaous, but more not motivated to eat or drink.  I also think I am eating a lot (pigging out ) during my good weeks, but still dropping weight.  

Find some things that appeal to him on both the drink and food side.  Even when I am in my not hungry phase, I will have some ginger snaps or small muffins.  That breaks into my general apathy.  Also som general carbs like mac and cheese or pasta.  It is strange, but starting to eat a bit gets me to eat a bit more.  But without a doubt eating and drinking less overall, and weight loss seems to come with chemo.

Maybe some others have some tips for eating and drinking.

Try not to worry too much and ask the docs about what may help with the issues.  

Great thanks for all your advice x