Question:
My husband has Lung and some Brain Cancer that they said spread from his Lung to the Brain, he just went through (5) days of radation treatments.
I was wondering if anyone has some good web sites for Chemo and the foods that will help a person going through it, as I know that it might be rough for my husband to go through and I would like to do whatever I may to help him feel better and prepare foods that he will be able to keep in his stomach.
Any help that can be provided, would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Answer:
Sachae-
I don't know of any such site off hand, but I would say that general "good nutrition" will certianly help. My wife has trouble with her appetite, so I make sure she gets the supplements she needs. But when she was getting chemo she craved certian foods. We use to go to the Olive Garden after her treatments, but since she stopped chemo she hasn't craved the same things.
I honestly think your husband will be your best source. It is important that he eats, even if the menu isn't ideal nutrition. Health food fanatics will try to tell you that "sugar feeds cancer", but there is not clinical evidence of that. I do agree that too much sugar (glucose) is not ideal for optimal health, but it is energy. My wife has lost alot of weight, so while I wish she would load up on all natural foods ...I get her whatever she will eat.
God bless,
conan
Answer:
Hi Sachae
Well I have the same thing going on as your husband so have done a lot of looking around for the same things.
Lots of info out there, but I agree with Conan, that it's pretty much common sense. Nutrient rich foods, meaning lots of vegetables, lean meat, fish (especially those high in omega-3) and basically just healthy food. BUt I also agree that when the appetite isn't quite up to par, eat whatever he feels like.
Bad thing about the brain tumors is swelling and inflammation that might lead to seizures. So you want to try to keep his ingestion of sugars to a minimum, as sugars can (supposedly) cause inflammation in the body. And as Conan has said, no evidence that sugar feeds cancer, but it is very unhealthful. I've been using either stevia (pant based sweetener) or agave nectar, which has a low glycemic index. And they aren't all chemically like aspartame, and other artificial sweetners.
It's pretty hard to eat healthy for me as I'm not all that hungry on the chemo, and really do not feel like cooking much either. But hate prepared foods, so it's tough right now. Yogurt has been a daily thing for me. Easy to get down and has some good points to it. Also use that instant breakfast mix with soy milk for breakfast. Got to make sure you eat enough protein with this disease.
Anyway, wish your husband all the best.
Lots of great people here for help, so keep checking in and asking questions.
We all do.
Faith
Answer:
And by all means don't forget the Ensure. that stuff will give you what you need on days you don't really feel like eating!! the chocolate is really good, so says my MIL....LOL
Answer:
When we had trouble getting my mom to eat we decided to add calories to the Ensure by getting a chocolate shake from one of the fast food places then mixing the ensure with it, it made one big shake but she would suck that thing down in record time! JanMarie