Dad starts chemo next Tuesday...preparing a grocery list.. What can a person on chemo...stomache?.. I was going to get all types of juices...etc... but someone said that makes one sick on chemo... and to buy ensure...or boost... Anyone out there gone throug chemo...and can give me some advice.?
Thanks, Christine
Answer:
I started treatment for lung cancer nine months ago-radiation and chemo together at first- now just chemo. There are so many different chemo drugs and different reactions to them. I have been very lucky so far- no vomiting,very little weight loss. The whole thing has been much better then I expected it to be. I have gotten the best help from the nurses giving the treatments, they deal with side affects every day. I eat almost everything that I ate before most of the time, some days I am just not hungry, on those days I eat soup,crackers, juice or boost. I drink the boost very cold, thru a straw-it helps. I wish I could help you more, this is going to be a day to day thing for your Dad and for you. Fatigue has been my worst problem- there is medication for that and it helps alot. I hope your Dad is also lucky, God Bless.
my mom went through chemo 7 years ago and she just ended up drinking a lot of pedialyte because she couldn't stomach much of anything. they have a new drug now that is supposed to help with appetite and keeping things down during chemo, no idea what it's called, but he should ask his doctor if he should/can take it. i hope everything goes well for him.
There is a newer pill called Ondasatron (No sure spelling is right) but it works really, really, really, well. Everyone is different in how they react to chemo. Puddings are another good option, soups that are not to salty or creamed are good choices. Ice cream, Popsicles, Gatorade type drinks, arrowroot cookies, anything that isn't to greasy, spicy are good choices. Good luck.
After each chemo treatment I am unable to drink/eat anything that is cooler then room temperature for the first 4 - 5 days. My throat constricts and I have trouble breathing. See if you can find out the listed side effects of the drugs your dad will be taking as all of them are different. My appetite is usually pretty non existent for the first couple of days and what I am interested in changes each time. You may want to hold off stocking the fridge/cupboards and see if he craves anything. The anti nausea drugs work wonders.
Smells will make most cancer pts sick to the stomach. I have to eat most of my foods refridgerator cold. Some things I can handle at room temp, but def never hot food right off the stove. Also, check about diets for neutropnia. Some times the chemo will kill the white blood cells making it difficult to fight infection. It is called neutropenia when the white blood cells are below a certain level. During this time you cant eat raw fruits or veggies and extra care needs to be taken when preparing for food. If this is the case the doc should know and will explain this thoroughly, but it never hurts to ask.As far things like boost and the like, I cant stand them. The docs and nurses and nutrional therapists try their hardest to get it down my throat but itsnasty and makes me sick. The closest to that i could handle was gatorade. Juices are good to drink if he can stomach them. And really you could a zillion diff answers on here. It's gonna be a process of trial and error. Some things work for certain ppl and not others. Or some things will work this time but next time won't. I also suggest not serving many favorite foods. Often foods dont have their normal taste because the chemo can effect taste buds. Also, if he gets sick after eating a favorite food it can cause taste aversion. I learned that one the hard way.
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