Feeding Tube

[Terry]

Has anyone heard about cancer treatments that use feeding tubes? Has anyone here been given a feeding tube?

My husband is slowly starving. I doubt he gets more than 500 calories a day. How can a body successfully fight such a nasty disease when it is stressed from malnutrition? If he had a feeding tube, he would be able to maintain his weight, and have a better chance.

Terry

[Guest HerSon]

My mom had one for a while. It didn't help much because her system was not able to absorb the nutrients. The doctor said that her loss of apetite was linked to her bodys inabilty to digest and aborb foods, and it was all indirectly related to the cancer.

[kimblanchard]

I only know a little - I have read on here about several people with feeding tubes, especially people who were having radiation and couldn't swallow, so it is something that is done. There is some concern about maintaining a feeding tube, it can an opportunity site for infection.

Years ago I worked with total care people and some of them had feeding tubes literally for years. They appeared healthy enough given their overall condition. Seems to me that the nurses gave them Ensure or something like that through their tubes.

Best Wishes, Margaret

[Ry]

Many individuals die from malnutrition rather than the cancer. Somewhere there is a post about this, I'll see if I can find it for you.

Feeding tubes are not a problem to deal with. Bobmc has one (unless he was able to have it removed). Can he drink any supplements like Ensure or Carnation Instant Breakfast?

Rochelle

[Ry]

Here it is

===== PLEASE DON"T LET ANYONE STARVE!=====

An inherent issue within the reality of having cancer that somehow is lost, unknown, or rarely explained or discussed is the significant anti-appetite efffect caused by both the effects of treatment AND the metabolic by-products of tumors.

Literally, as the tumor is feeding itself from your blood supply, it is also secreting waste materials that create a POWERFUL anorexic effect.

You do not WANT food/nourishment...you do not FEEL hungry...the very SMELL of food can make you feel nauseous...foods taste HORRIBLE...you take some sips of "something" just to pacify those who are trying to get you to eat something/anything. (My caretakers were OVERJOYED if I took 2-3 sips or bites of anything in an entire day!) This ongoing scenario literally took me to within days of DEATH BY STARVATION...not by my cancer...BY STARVATION.

Families unaware of these toxic tumor secretions & their effects often become frustrated/hurt/upset & even angry at their loved one, mistakenly thinking they're being difficult and non-cooperative...and/or have given up. Worse yet, familes can fatalistically believe NOTHING can be done, and then the needed actions are NEVER done.

___________________________________

If you DON'T have cancer, try this:

Have 1/10th your normal food/fluid intake for just 3 days...72 hours...and do not leave the bed. Then, please post how you're feeling & how much you are capable of doing. See what starvation and weakness do to your overall outlook on life in general.

Remember I said "healthy-person"---"3 days". Multiply this 10 times, and you may have a greater consciousness of the cancer-patient-experience in some small way.

____________________________________

Then add on the ADDITIONAL & predictable effects on appetite from chemo, rads, pain meds, anxiety, fatigue, exogenous depression, etcetera...and the person-battling-cancer is NOT getting adequate nutrition & fluids just when they are NEEDED the MOST.

This "starvation-syndrome" is an preventable/addressable crisis/oftimes tragedy. Temporary PRN usage of a G-Tube can overcome these issues, with nutritional and fluid needs being readily/reliably met, without creating discomfort, frustration and aggravation at meal times. With the G-tube in, I was able to endure treatment, recover, and survive.

If the person-battling-cancer in your life is CONSISTENTLY getting 8-10 glasses of water/fluids a day, & 1800-2200 balanced calories/nutrients per day, please disregard the above info on the G-tube. (Also, do not confuse a G-tube with the NG-tube, which enters through the nose.)

____________________________________

One prepackaged nutritional supplement of definite and known value is ENSURE.

They have a NEW specialized, targeted product out now, PROSURE. Formulated for the nutritional needs of people-battling-cancer, recent hopeful research indicate PROSURE has some effect on solid tumors, slowing/halting additional growth. The Veterans Hospital system has recently circulated these clinical findings and are currently giving extensive Inservice Education on the overlooked/critical need of providing adequate nutrition to its Oncology patients, specifically discussing usage of PROSURE.

_____________________________________

This info should not be misinterpreted as an "advertisement" for any product. All of the above is part of the readily available public domain, and not "opinion".

____________________________________

My honest heartfelt plea is:

Let's try to MORE completely understand & CORRECTLY deal with the loss of appetite in a person-battling-cancer.

Let's not blame them, or assume they've given up.

Get them the nutritional assistance they require IMMEDIATELY.

Don't WAIT or DELAY until you're days from death, like we did.

PLEASE...Don't stand helplessly by, watching them needlessly starve.

Take our prayers for fortitude, and GET BUSY!!

___________________________________

Love, Strength, Faith, Peace, & Unity!!

_________________

Carpe Diem & Noche

[tnmynatt]

My husband is drinking Boost Plus to maintain his weight. It seems to be working very well. He had lost about 20 lbs. in 10 days. He has now stabilized and put back on about 3 lbs.

According to a book I read, approximately 40% of cancer patients die from malnutrition.

Hope this helps. Take care.

[Larry]

Can not speak with much knowledge about the feeding tube,but i lost a brotherinlaw who starved to death as a result of his cancer.He had refused medical cancer treatment and went with some kind of concoction that members of his church fixed and it had no effect on the cancer and he literally starved to death and refused any outside medical help which drove my sister into total frustration.

I'm wondering as to whether your husband is getting the correct med for his thyroid that is now gone.My wife had her thyroid removed due to grave's desease and before it was removed she had dropped to 84 pound's and then once she recovered from the thyroid loss it took the doctor a couple of time's before they got the correct dosage on her thyroid med.

Another point i might make and that is they used a radiation pill to kill her thyroid and after it was discovered she had SCLC 3 years later i did ask the Doctor if it was possible that the radiation pill they gave her could have caused the cancer and he said it was possible but they had no way of knowing.......

Larry

[Elaine]

Larry,

The more I read the board, the more clear it becomes to me that women with thyroid issues also seem to get LC. Don't know exactly the connection, but it is becoming increasingly clear to me that there is one.

elaine

[Hebbie]

Holy crap, Larry!

I had a radioactive Isotope pill to "kill" my overactive thyroid too (Graves Disease) -- about 10 years prior to discovering my cancer. My mom will swear to this day that that is the cause of my cancer. (Especially since the tumor was located at the top of my right upper lobe, which would be fairly close to the throat/thyroid area.

My endocrinologist and a few others I have spoken to will tell you it is impossible, but the more I hear about it, the more convinced I become!

[DeanCarl]

Elaine and Hebbie,

'Taint just the women. I've fought hypothyroid problems all my life. Like you guys I'm not sure why there seems to be a connection, but sure looks like there is.

Terry,

If I could suggest something? I use Weight Gainer 2200. It's a powderd drink that can be mixed with milk, water or, as I do, can be made into a "power shake" using icecream. The thing that is so good for me is that it not only adds a TON of calories and other nutrients to my diet, it also seems to stimulate my motabilizm so that I end up eating more regular foods also. I had my hospice nurse check it out and she's all for it. It comes in a number of different flavors and, if you mix it with icecream and milk for that shake you might be able to come up with a flavor your husband can at least tolorate or maybe even enjoy.

Dean

[Guest bean_si (Not Active)]

Weird. I'm hypothyroid.

I haven't taken my meds in ages - stopped them when I started chemo. Truthfully, I've been on and off them because I hate taking meds and I thought hypothyroidism was overly diagnosed. I'm beginning to have second thoughts.

I also heard that there is a condition involving the thyroid where you could go from hypo to hyper - hyper to hypo.

Cat

[Elaine]

Another weird thing is this: I was talking to a alternative medicine Dr and he asked me about thyroid and I told him I was checked for it many times in the past but nothing ever showed. He then said that sometimes it doesnt show on the test. He then asked if I had a lower than normal body temp--and I said yes I did. Ever since I could remember my normal body temp was about 97- 97.6. He said that is an indication of thyroid trouble that may have gone unfound and that people with low body temps also seem to be at higher risk for cancer.

So anyway, ...

elaine

[kimblanchard]

I am bumping this up one time, this is very valuable information. I had no idea malnutrician was as big a problem as this.

Margaret

[Fay A.]

My friend, Jim, wrote the PLEASE DON'T LET ANYONE STARVE post, and did so from his personal experience.

He was refused radiation treatments from two facilities. Basically told to go home and let things run their course. He chose life.

He finally found a place that would do the radiation on his recurrent tumors. He also required the use of a gastric feeding tube. And he is still alive-and glad to be so!

Starvation is a common cause of death in cancer patients. It doesn't have to be.

[curriea]

Hi! My name is Amanda and my husband Craig also has NSCLC.

We went to a nutritionist, who recommend a book called "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quillin. He and his wife have a dietary plan for helping cancer patients not become malnourished. And he has a supplement called ImmunoPower that I think you may need ASAP. Call 1-800-247-6553 or 1-888-741-5433. You can find the book on Amazon.com and read the first half of the first chapter on-line. he says that more cancer patients die from malnutrition than from cancer.

In the meantime, try this "milkshake" that you can make from some relatively easily found things.

His recipe for the Dragonslayer shake is:

4-8 ozs of liquid (water, furit juice, vegetable juice, V-8, ice cubes, milk, soy milk, rice milk)

10-15 grams (1-4 Tablespoons) of powdered protein (health food store)

1/4-1/2 cup vegetables, cooked or raw

1-3 Tablespoons thickening agent (frozen bannana, apple sauce, agar, carregenan, guar gum, gelatin, ice cubes)

1-3 Tablespoons of other ingredients (ImmunoPower (see above), Perfect 7 (1-800-767-4776), flax seed oil (health food stor), or Essential Balance oil (health food store))

Put these things in a blender and blend until smooth.

I hope this helps.

Amanda

[tnmynatt]

Amanda,

Welcome to the board. Sorry you have to be here...The place we wish we didn't have a need for, i.e. cancer free.

I have been considering getting Immunopower for my husband after reading Quillin's book. Has your husband already been on it or are you getting it?

Thanks and take care.

[Addie]

Holy cr*p....I just found this post....and I was dx'd with Graves Disease in l974. Drank radioactive iodine to treat it. Four years later, I started on Synthroid and am still on it, having developed Hashimoto's Thyroiditis a few years ago!

As I recall....when I drank the RAI, they told me it amounted to about 50 rads worth. How that translates to centigrays I don't know....but it didn't sound like huge amount to me.

Still....I sit here stunned, to think there could be a thyroid/cancer connection.

The number of people in this thread who say they had Graves Disease.....makes me wonder just how many others here did too...and just haven't happened across this thread?

Wow.

[Elaine]

Addie and All:

Just think: There are estimated to be about 160,000 new cases of lc this year. I think that is the number. Then add to that all the people who are surviving having been dxed before this year--and the active members here are say, about 400 or so. Plus and there have been maybe at most 70 DIFFERENT people who have viewed this message and I would say that this consitutes a very large connection between thyroid and lc.

I don't think that John has posted to this thread, but I think his mom had thyroid issues too!

hmmm

elaine

[Terry]

I haven't been here for awhile. My days are so busy and at night I am SO tired. There is tons of information here. I especially want to hear more about Jim's story.

I have just started trying ProSure. I make shakes with it and it is one of the few things my husband seems to tolerate. It's expensive however, so I will try some of the other suggestions: Boost, Weight Gainer, ImmunoPower.

If there is a connection between thyroid problems and lung cancer, what do we do with this information? My husband's daughter (my step daughter) has had her thyroid removed radioactively. What should she do, assuming she is at risk for getting lung cancer? I don't want to scare her without giving her something proactive to do. Maybe I should encourage her to get CT scans. It seems that what makes lung cancer so dangerous is that it is often not detected until it is very advanced.

Terry

[betplace]

I am also a person who tends to have a low body tempersture. I run around 96.8 - 97.5 or so most of the time. I guess thst means I may have a thyroid problem too.

Blessings

Betty

[Guest bean_si (Not Active)]

Betty, I recall in one of your posts you said you were overweight. That can also be a sign of hypothyroidism. I'd get tested. I've heard many times that hypothyroidism is under-diagnosed until recently and that the number of women who have it is skyrocketing. Not sure why.

Cat