Terminal cancer

IanGarrick

Used this app for years to maintain weight. Suddenly started loosing weight at an alarming rate. Diagnosed cancer of the oesophagus, scan reveals speed to lung nodes, pelvis and back. Diagnosed terminal. Hope to use this app to maintain weight at healthy level. Any pointers

Corina1143

Hi, Ian.
No real pointers. I wonder if it would help you to set up your stats here and tell mfp you want to gain weight to give you a high number to reach for on good days so bad days don't hurt as much.
Fat has over twice as many calories as protein and carbohydrates (pro) but can make you feel so full that it's hard to keep eating (con). It's worth experimenting with.
Wish I could be more help. I've been wanting to lose weight for about 43 years, so my mind just doesn't register trying to gain. Lol.

AnnPT77

Are you seeing oncologists at a cancer center? If so, they may have a cancer specialist registered dietitian (RD) on staff you can consult. Ask.
That would be ideal. The one at my cancer center was super helpful.

If not, ask your doctor for a referral to an RD, if possible. There may be other ways to consult a general-practice RD for private pay or even free if you're lucky. But a cancer specialist RD would be ideal.

Hugs to you: This is tough stuff. I had stage III breast cancer; my late husband had advanced metastatic esophageal cancer.

The general advice to me during cancer treatment was to eat all the calories and nutrition I could tolerate. Ask your treatment team what's advised, in general, for you.

Wishing you the best possible outcome!

PAPYRUS3

I work in a hospice that only houses cancer patients. The patients who seem to fare much better are those who enter the facility with a healthy weight.

I would echo all given advice and hugs to you and your family.

loulee997

IanGarrick wrote: »

Used this app for years to maintain weight. Suddenly started loosing weight at an alarming rate. Diagnosed cancer of the oesophagus, scan reveals speed to lung nodes, pelvis and back. Diagnosed terminal. Hope to use this app to maintain weight at healthy level. Any pointers

Hey Ian,

Cancer sucks. Don't forget to live your life--no one has any guarantees. Remember to keep doing the things that you love to do if you can. Brother, nephew, uncles, cousins--had cancer. Different kinds though. Don't let the disease take over your life. Take care of yourself and keep having fun.

Try to add weight. Extra body fat can help fuel the body when it's fighting an illness or disease. The disease makes it hard to keep up your weight and nutrition. If you can tolerate it, low-sugar high protein shakes can help keep your weight and energy up. Soft high-protein food will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Chop up all meats into very small pieces. Sauces or gravy can add calories and soften food. Soft and liquid is easier to swallow. Eat lots of small meals. Drink with meals but not before. If you end up having surgery, the amount you can eat all at once can be limited. You want food first. Liquid with food will help you swallow it. Add fats such as butter. You want to add calories and fats to everything.

Some patients have to eventually get a GTube or JTube to eat through a tube. If you can eat enough by mouth, you lower the chance of needing a tube.

Try to avoid heavily sugared items. Since the digestive tract is shorter, eating high-sugar foods can cause sugar dumping. Dumping can cause nausea and stomach upset. Less sugar the better.

Radiation or immune therapy might give you more time without making you sicker. Just a thought. Balance what gives you the best improvement of health without making your feel worse.

Stomach upset can be normal. You might add ginger tea or peppermint tea to help soothe the stomach.

I wish you well! Feel better.
Let me know if you need anything.

lois1231

So sorry to hear that. I wish I could offer some help but I don’t know what to say except again I am sorry for your situation

chrissiev12

So sorry about your diagnosis.
I heard a man saying, after the initial shock, making a bucket list can help focus you to do everything you wanted to do. Also High carb and fat food like pizza and burgers