murillomod Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Hi Everyone, I have read this message board every day since August when my mom was diagnosed with sclc, it has been a God send for me to know that there are survivors from lung cancer!! My mom has had 3 cycles of chemo, she had to stop because it was eating all of her plateletts. Thank God , in December she had a PET scan and it did not show no cancer so she also had PCI. She is doing great right now , she wanted me to write to ask what people do for their appetite. She does drink prosure every day but gets nauseated with alot of food.She wants to know if any one ever gets their sense of taste back .Thanks for all your great support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCarl Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 A big help for me was some stuff called "Weight Gainner 2000". It's a powder you can make a shake with using milk or ice cream or pretty much whatever. It comes in various flavors. I get mine at Rite Aid. It put a big halt to the weight loss I was experiencing. Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remembering Dave Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Good news on the PET Scan. I am probably not a good one to ask about appetite since I gained so much during my treatments. I seemed to be constantly eating so maybe she could try several really small meals during the day. David C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO_Sugar Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 I am just now getting back to eating since treatment. I have found that "Comfort Foods" are what I want the most of. Meatloaf, pork chops, turkey..............all the things my Mom made when I was a child. I have been eating a lot of soup and "soft" things also. Good Luck. God Bless, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieB Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 For us, many small meals at the ready was very good. I am told that when the rare occasion the appetite comes back- by the time you decide on food, prepare it, or wait for it, the appetite can be GONE. So with my dad we put tons of ready to serve snacks on the coffee table- while he sat or laid down and watched TV or read, he could just reach over and grab something. Little bits of "grazing" here and there really help and add up. We also learned never to tell him when food was coming. (When we'd ask if he was hungry or tell him food was coming- he'd ALWAYS say he wasn't hungry and didn't want it) We would just prepare a meal (like lunch or dinner) and sit it in front of him without saying anything. He'd look at it for a minute and then graze on that too. Sometimes he would surprise himself and eat alot of it and he hadn't even "felt" hungry. There is also an appetite enhancing prescription called Megace. My dad used this and it worked WONDERS for him. ASK your moms Dr. about this too. One of it's side-effects is blood clotting, so that may be a concern in your moms case. My dad became anemic after his treatments so blood clots were never a worry for him. Hope this helps and good luck- please keep us posted and I will keep your family in my prayers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roseymac Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 The weight gainner 2200 Dean mentioned is great, it says to mix three scoops with milk but that is a little too thick unless you make a milkshake out of it in the blender, I use one full scoop with a glass of Milk at diner, it tastes so much better than the ensure or prosure, kinda on the same taste as carnation instant breakfast. You can get it at GNC or the GNC aisle at Rite Aid, it is a huge bottle, maybe you can get a sample from one of the stores. Find out when it goes on sale. My husband lost so much weight before diagnosis and while in the hospital, but his weight is really coming up now, and we want to keep it that way. Rosemary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 Oddly enough, Slim-Fast, the diet powder is very similar in nutrition to Ensure and comes in several flavors. When the chemo and radiation were burning my esophagus, swallowing anything was my big problem. I survived with a blender, slim-fast, protein powder and whole milk. Once the initial esophageal spasms ended, I could chug-a lug a pint of thick malted milk flavored soybean protein drink good for several hundred calories. My platlets also disappeared and I need a transfusion, but slowly I began to eat more soft food. Pressure cook chicken legs to get a really thick broth and noodles or mac and cheese. Two months after my last treatment , and PET scan negative, I have gained 9 pounds, but am still 40 pounds lighter than last year. Food tastes better, but remains hard to swallow. I don’t save dubious leftovers for thrift, considering that one injection cost more than several months food, and eating is part of the treatment for SCLC. Try and pamper your Mother , I try and pamper myself because I have stopped saving for my old age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddy Posted February 19, 2004 Share Posted February 19, 2004 Try her with all the "bad" things, I mean things that were considered bad before cancer! My husband only suffered the "taste" problem for a few days after each chemo treatment. I spoiled him with milk shakes, jello and ice cream and in fact anything he fancied. I tried to add nutricious foods of course, but the main thing is to get "anything" down them! Of course the "Ensure" is a must and can be mixed with all sorts of stuff, for variety, I believe. Best of luck with your Mom, Paddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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