New Diagnosis

chistyr1
chistyr1 Member Posts: 5

Hi, :)

 

My dad was just recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. Just wondering if you guys had any tips for his diet and otherwise. He starts Chemo tomorrow!

 

Thanks, 

Rafia

Comments

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    I'm sorry to hear about your

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad. The only thing I can say about diet is for him to eat well. By that I mean try to cut back on bad foods like junk food, processed foods, anything that you know is crap, if he eats those things. But he should otherwise eat whatever he wants. It's important not to lose weight while on chemo and it can cause nausea or lack of appetite. Food gives strength and he'll need that.

    Is he starting on 5FU? That's usually the one they start with but not necessarily. I found that I had pretty bad fatigue with it but not everyone gets that. And I was having radiation at the same time so that could have made it worse. Where has the cancer spread to?

    Jan

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    Food diary

    I have found that keeping a food diary really helps. 

    Each of us react differently to chemo meds, so looking at your food diary can give you great insight into what triggers nausea, diarhea, bloating and the like. 

    The usual 'good foods' like fruits (especially berries), vegetables are great for your health, unless they cause problems for the bowel. It all depends on what surgery he has had, if he has a bag, and what chemo regime he is on - thus, the food diary. 

    When the appetite wanes, as it usually does, then drinks like Ensure and Boost - protien drinks, to keep energy up. Always pass this by his Oncologist first though.  

    Also, dehydration can be a huge problem, so lots of water or, if it gets bad, electrolytes. 

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad. He has a good daughter, and your support will mean the world to him.

    Tru

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited June 2018 #4
    Treatment

    First off I'm sorry to hear about your father.  He should make sure that he keeps his strength up during treatment and if he doesn't feel well enough to eat, make sure that he eats what he is able.  He should make sure that anything unusual that he feels to contact doctor.  It's good that he has a daughter looking out for him. 

    Kim

  • chistyr1
    chistyr1 Member Posts: 5
    JanJan63 said:

    I'm sorry to hear about your

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad. The only thing I can say about diet is for him to eat well. By that I mean try to cut back on bad foods like junk food, processed foods, anything that you know is crap, if he eats those things. But he should otherwise eat whatever he wants. It's important not to lose weight while on chemo and it can cause nausea or lack of appetite. Food gives strength and he'll need that.

    Is he starting on 5FU? That's usually the one they start with but not necessarily. I found that I had pretty bad fatigue with it but not everyone gets that. And I was having radiation at the same time so that could have made it worse. Where has the cancer spread to?

    Jan

    Hi Jan,

    Thanks for the advice. His cancer has spread to his liver. The first medication they will be starting him on is folfox today. We are all very nervous but he has a great support system! 

    Thanks,

    Rafia

  • chistyr1
    chistyr1 Member Posts: 5
    Thanks for the tips!

    Hi everyone,

    Thank you for the tips reading a lot of the discussion posts of what you all are going through is helping me get some insight on what he will be going throug. We do not have a history of cancer in the family so none of us have seen it up close.He has 3 daughters and a son that are fighting for him! He’s only 55 so all of us are very young.

    Thanks,

    Rafia

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    chistyr1 said:

    Thanks for the tips!

    Hi everyone,

    Thank you for the tips reading a lot of the discussion posts of what you all are going through is helping me get some insight on what he will be going throug. We do not have a history of cancer in the family so none of us have seen it up close.He has 3 daughters and a son that are fighting for him! He’s only 55 so all of us are very young.

    Thanks,

    Rafia

    Questions

    If you have more questions while he is going through tests or treatments, please come back and ask.  We are always here to help.

    Kim

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    chistyr1 said:

    Thanks for the tips!

    Hi everyone,

    Thank you for the tips reading a lot of the discussion posts of what you all are going through is helping me get some insight on what he will be going throug. We do not have a history of cancer in the family so none of us have seen it up close.He has 3 daughters and a son that are fighting for him! He’s only 55 so all of us are very young.

    Thanks,

    Rafia

    Chemo

    As he is starting chemo, it would make great sense to read some of the postings about side-effects and ways to deal with them.  Things like having anti-nausea meds on hand and other tips really helped me.  These are things that the doctors often neglect to mention but that are disussed widely on this forum.  Sorry you have to be dealing with this.

  • PamC
    PamC Member Posts: 9

    Chemo

    As he is starting chemo, it would make great sense to read some of the postings about side-effects and ways to deal with them.  Things like having anti-nausea meds on hand and other tips really helped me.  These are things that the doctors often neglect to mention but that are disussed widely on this forum.  Sorry you have to be dealing with this.

    I followed the BRAT diet.

    I followed the BRAT diet. Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. I struggled with being sick and anything I ate didn't stay. These items were easier to eat, especially the toast, and I had more luck keeping them down. Sounds strange, but I relied on sweet tart candy. The sourness helped distract me and settle my stomach. 

  • SophDan2
    SophDan2 Member Posts: 150 Member
    chistyr1 said:

    Thanks for the tips!

    Hi everyone,

    Thank you for the tips reading a lot of the discussion posts of what you all are going through is helping me get some insight on what he will be going throug. We do not have a history of cancer in the family so none of us have seen it up close.He has 3 daughters and a son that are fighting for him! He’s only 55 so all of us are very young.

    Thanks,

    Rafia

    I went throuh Folfox 5FU

    I went through Folfox last June through November. Your father will, due to the Oxaliplatin (most intense drug of the Folfox regimen), have extreme sensitivity to cold, neuropathy in fingers and toes, nausea, when eating everything will have a metallic taste to it and exhaustion.

    This how I dealt with each of these issues:

    Sensitivity to cold: Drink and eat room temperature or hot food and liquids. Keep gloves handy (in the car, on top of the fridge). He is very lucky (as was I) that he is receiving his treatments during the warmer months.

    Neuropathy: Communicate with Oncologist about how long the neuropathy lasts from treatment to treatment, do not let it get to the point where it lasts from one treatment to the next. I had 12 treatments over 6 months; I cut back the Oxaliplatin for treatments 10 and 11 and eliminated it for #12. This is the most important thing to be aware of and communicate with the Oncologist what your father's wishes are; he does have a say in this matter!!!!!

    Metallic tasting food and drink: Cook very healthy looking and colorful meals and eat (if possible) 3 healthy meals a day. He won't be able to taste the food (or at least as you think it would taste / metallic tasting). It is so important to eat during the treatment, as that is what will allow your body to rejuvenate the healthy cells that the chemo will kill (red, white, platelets etc...). The chemo has a 72 hour life span, the 1st drop in lasts 72 hours and last drop in last 72 hours, so for approximately 5 to 6 day the chemo is raging in your body, when it wears off, you want your body in a position to fight back.

    I would investigate marijuana edibles; I used them during my treatment for 5 of the 12. It helped me deal with the nausea, it gave me an appetite and I slept like a baby. No side effects like the anti-nausea drugs that are prescribed. Worth it, if it is legal where you live (or not ;).

    I hope that this info helps! 

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    SophDan2 said:

    I went throuh Folfox 5FU

    I went through Folfox last June through November. Your father will, due to the Oxaliplatin (most intense drug of the Folfox regimen), have extreme sensitivity to cold, neuropathy in fingers and toes, nausea, when eating everything will have a metallic taste to it and exhaustion.

    This how I dealt with each of these issues:

    Sensitivity to cold: Drink and eat room temperature or hot food and liquids. Keep gloves handy (in the car, on top of the fridge). He is very lucky (as was I) that he is receiving his treatments during the warmer months.

    Neuropathy: Communicate with Oncologist about how long the neuropathy lasts from treatment to treatment, do not let it get to the point where it lasts from one treatment to the next. I had 12 treatments over 6 months; I cut back the Oxaliplatin for treatments 10 and 11 and eliminated it for #12. This is the most important thing to be aware of and communicate with the Oncologist what your father's wishes are; he does have a say in this matter!!!!!

    Metallic tasting food and drink: Cook very healthy looking and colorful meals and eat (if possible) 3 healthy meals a day. He won't be able to taste the food (or at least as you think it would taste / metallic tasting). It is so important to eat during the treatment, as that is what will allow your body to rejuvenate the healthy cells that the chemo will kill (red, white, platelets etc...). The chemo has a 72 hour life span, the 1st drop in lasts 72 hours and last drop in last 72 hours, so for approximately 5 to 6 day the chemo is raging in your body, when it wears off, you want your body in a position to fight back.

    I would investigate marijuana edibles; I used them during my treatment for 5 of the 12. It helped me deal with the nausea, it gave me an appetite and I slept like a baby. No side effects like the anti-nausea drugs that are prescribed. Worth it, if it is legal where you live (or not ;).

    I hope that this info helps! 

    I agree. I take Nabilone

    I agree. I take Nabilone which is a drug that contains the compounds that are beneficial from the cannabis. I started on oils but they taste yucky and aren't covered by our insurance plan. The pills are. I have been able to eliminate my pain pills, anti-nausea pills, and sleeping pills since I started on them. I was feeling better within two days and have continued to feel much better ever since. I've never smoked pot and didn't actually believe it would work so the fact that it made such a difference so quickly is very impressive to me.

    I'd been taking anti-nausea pills that were $5 each, our portion. They didn't touch the nausea.

    Jan