Diet

WNC7
WNC7 Member Posts: 9
in Caregivers #1

New to the board, as my partner was recently diagnosed with TNB ,had the mastectomy, and the port installed. Chemo begins this week. Am trying to get her to eat a bit healthier to build immunity and strength. Meeting resistance at every turn. I know this is not my battle but it does affect me. Spending money like it was endless and when I bring up topics related to any of it, it is not welcomed. I think she is in denial but I am just trying to get her to give it her best shot. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. 

Comments

  • jorola
    jorola Member Posts: 243 Member
    #2
    No matter what you do run it past the treatment team first

    You are trying to help and that is awesome but you may inadvertentlly counteract what the treatment is doing with diet changes. So just to be on the careful side check with them first before making any changes ok? They can explain more.

  • Catholic
    Catholic Member Posts: 86
    #3
    The port is easy. The patient

    The port is easy. The patient with cancer will take that first dose with a positive, fighting spirit.  Then within 2 weeks, their hair will all fall out.  So prepare for that and go get some of those hats for cancer patients.  Order a few hats now.  My wifes hair fell out all in one day and she was ready to kill someone.  She believed that her hair wasnt going to fall out; but that was the big wake up call that chemotherapy is serious and the drugs she was taking are poisonous.  As time marches on, the patient going through chemotherapy will want to sleep and you will be surprised at how much they sleep.  At least 14-16 hour days of sleep and 8-10 hours of awake.  So when they are awake, you get them some food and we went through alot of soups.  The person going through chemotherapy will have no taste buds; they taste nothing (at least that is what I was told by my wife).  I made a variety of easy foods from simple rolls to soups and she ate when she felt like it.  Dont be surprised if their appetitite declines significantly.

    The patient with cancer is less and less positive about anything as chemotherapy progresses.  But for the most part, chemotherapy was not difficult for me as the caregiver.  The difficult part was pre-chemotherapy (but thats a different story) and post-chemotherapy.  The hair starts to grow back and their is hope.  But the mood swings and massive depression may stay.  Your may find yourself at your wits end when the chemotherapy is over and your partner is still angry at everything and as the caregiver, your getting the absolute brunt of all of this daily anger.

     

  • WNC7
    WNC7 Member Posts: 9
    #4
    jorola said:

    No matter what you do run it past the treatment team first

    You are trying to help and that is awesome but you may inadvertentlly counteract what the treatment is doing with diet changes. So just to be on the careful side check with them first before making any changes ok? They can explain more.

    Thank you, I Will. 

    Thank you, I Will. 

  • WNC7
    WNC7 Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2017 #5
    Catholic said:

    The port is easy. The patient

    The port is easy. The patient with cancer will take that first dose with a positive, fighting spirit.  Then within 2 weeks, their hair will all fall out.  So prepare for that and go get some of those hats for cancer patients.  Order a few hats now.  My wifes hair fell out all in one day and she was ready to kill someone.  She believed that her hair wasnt going to fall out; but that was the big wake up call that chemotherapy is serious and the drugs she was taking are poisonous.  As time marches on, the patient going through chemotherapy will want to sleep and you will be surprised at how much they sleep.  At least 14-16 hour days of sleep and 8-10 hours of awake.  So when they are awake, you get them some food and we went through alot of soups.  The person going through chemotherapy will have no taste buds; they taste nothing (at least that is what I was told by my wife).  I made a variety of easy foods from simple rolls to soups and she ate when she felt like it.  Dont be surprised if their appetitite declines significantly.

    The patient with cancer is less and less positive about anything as chemotherapy progresses.  But for the most part, chemotherapy was not difficult for me as the caregiver.  The difficult part was pre-chemotherapy (but thats a different story) and post-chemotherapy.  The hair starts to grow back and their is hope.  But the mood swings and massive depression may stay.  Your may find yourself at your wits end when the chemotherapy is over and your partner is still angry at everything and as the caregiver, your getting the absolute brunt of all of this daily anger.

     

    Thanks

    some good advice here, appreciate it. Am already noticing the anxiety and nervousness and we are two days to start therapy.Am getting the brunt of the moods, but, I do not take it personally. I can not even imagine what is going thru her head, I just let her talk. 

  • Catholic
    Catholic Member Posts: 86
    edited March 2017 #6
    WNC7 said:

    Thanks

    some good advice here, appreciate it. Am already noticing the anxiety and nervousness and we are two days to start therapy.Am getting the brunt of the moods, but, I do not take it personally. I can not even imagine what is going thru her head, I just let her talk. 

    This is the site where I

    This is the site where I bought hats:

    https://www.tlcdirect.org/Cancer-Hats-and-turbans-for-Women-Cancer-and-Chemotherapy-Patients-American-Cancer-Society-TLC-Direct?shw=1

    I bought 2 hats and it was the best gift I ever bought.  My wife had no interest in the hats until the day she lost all of her hair and then she looked for, found, and wore one of the hats every day for the next year.  

    You can find cancer patient hats anywhere online.  The point is, get some now.

  • WNC7
    WNC7 Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2017 #7
    Catholic said:

    This is the site where I

    This is the site where I bought hats:

    https://www.tlcdirect.org/Cancer-Hats-and-turbans-for-Women-Cancer-and-Chemotherapy-Patients-American-Cancer-Society-TLC-Direct?shw=1

    I bought 2 hats and it was the best gift I ever bought.  My wife had no interest in the hats until the day she lost all of her hair and then she looked for, found, and wore one of the hats every day for the next year.  

    You can find cancer patient hats anywhere online.  The point is, get some now.

    Thanks

    some hats/hair arrived today. Good quality and she likes them!

Discussion Boards