HI, Mum ages 75 has been told she has stomach cancer, not anywhere else. She has feeding tube fitted but has been struggling with pain and runs when on the feed. We need to build up her strength in order to have chemo and hopefully surgery. Any ideas on how we can helps build up her weakness? Dietician is trying a different feed to see it that can help. She isnt really able to eat or drink.
Dear Lolly,
Thank you for contacting us. My name is Isobel and I am one of the Cancer Information nurses specialist on the Macmillan support line.
I am sorry to read about your mum, I can understand this must be a difficult time for you all. It is natural to want to do all that you can to help your Mum, and it sounds like you have been a great support. It can be very worrying when you see that she is weak, and not able to eat and drink very much.
It is good to read that she has the support of a dietician, who is trying to find a feed that mum can tolerate. When someone has not been eating for some time a feeding regime needs to be established very gradually to minimise the symptoms such as your mum is experiencing at this time.
As mum has a feeding tube at the moment I would recommend that you have a further conversation with her dietician about what would be helpful at this time as it sounds like this may be need to be very finely balanced so as not to impact her too much. She will have access to her medical notes and will be able to guide you in the very specific needs for your mum.
If the pain is increasing or her symptoms are worsening do you have someone to contact to talk to about this? You can ask her specialist about this or her dietician. You can also contact your GP or, if it is out of hours 111.
I hope you find this information helpful. I see that you have joined our Stomach cancer forum and hope this is a support to you.
Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if there is anything else we can help you with.
Best wishes,
Isobel
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist.
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 00 00 (7days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us.
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