Eating

Hi, my husband had chemo quite a few years ago (ECX) and he did sometimes struggle to eat before and during treatment. He was determined not to have a stent so he persevered with smoothies, juicing and soft food like spaghetti and fish pie.  For the smoothies I used full fat everything (cream, milk and ice cream) and a selection of fruit - these might go down more easily during your husband’s radiotherapy.

The after effects of the chemo weren’t too bad for him, he would feel relatively ok for a few days and then he felt really lethargic for a couple of days before feeling better again.  Obviously everyone is different and I hope your husband copes well, ask as many questions as you need to, it’s such a worrying time and you will get the support here.

Best wishes.

J x

Hi Jaycee thanks for the reply I bought a juicer/smoothie maker a few weeks back in preparation for this and always have plenty fruit and vegetable in the house so that will be fine for him suppose it will be trying to encourage him to eat or drink anything at that point

I mentioned the smoothies, for juicing I used a whole head of broccoli, a large orange and a carrot - one big glass every day full of anti carcinogenic goodness. Just a suggestion but I’m sure you will find a good combination, good nutrition is obviously important for his strength so keep encouraging him to eat & drink.

J x

I hope for good results for your husband--

Late 2017, I had increasing problems with swallowing with regurgitation happening often and intense.  Very severe by Feb., 2018.

Then x-rays for swallow test, then esophagram.

May, 2018, I had a endoscopic biopsy done--  cancer found at the bottom of the esophagus where it joins the stomach.   Then PET scan, installing a PIC line to be used for chemo infusion, CT scan....  Finally chemo and radiation stated:  8 weekly sessions of chemo (Taxol and Carboplatin) concurrent with daily radiation sessions (5 per week for almost 6 weeks, 28 sessions total, approx. 50 Gray units of radiation).

I only had one day of unpleasantness (the day following the second chemo and first radiation--  severe headache, weekness.  That disappeared the next day.  I had no nausea ever.  No severe side effects except that one time.

The good part--  after about the third chemo and 12 radiations--  I could swallow food again.  That continued to improve.  I can swallow normally today.  (I am in my 23rd  month after the biopsy diagnosis.)

The radiation did some expected harm to my lungs---shortness of breath.  I have some fatigue--  my hemoglobin is low.

BUT< EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY>

My age is 85, and my immune system is compromised so I need to be careful during this Corona virus crisis.

Sim 10,

My recent reply was intended for you, but it ended up displaced in the "Eating" subject.

My added comments--  I experinced no burning sensation after radiation.  After about 10 or 12 radiation sessions I was able to swallow normally.  Prior to that I had great difficulty with swallowing and had to regurgitate often.  Small bites of food (1/2 teaspoon at a time, chewed well).

I did consume small amounts of "Boost" or "Ensure" products that are high nutrition smoothie types.

During my swallowing difficulty--  I did best with breakfast cereal --  bran flakes with almond milk.

I wish you husband good heath.

Hi thanks for the reply unfortunately my husband is a stubborn old fool and refused the ensure shakes in hospital said they where awful. He's a very fussy eater so already a bit of a challenge to me. Ohh well the challenges we face I just tell him he can eat what he's given or starve lol the downside to living with a nurse is the lack of sympathy. We will plod on and see how it goes. It's good to hear other people's experience when this is so new to us. Take care.

Hi thanks for the reply he's not the biggest fan of fruit and veg and such a fussy eater this is going to be a challenge I think. He has been taking fruit smoothies and I have been doing it with ice cream for extra calories at the minute and they seem to be going ok. 

Hi again Tintin they have decided on only 3 sessions of chemo today is the first and will do one in the middle and end of the radiotherapy, and oral chemo tablets as well as 5 weeks of radiotherapy. Just hoping not any severe side effects during this.

Simone

Sim10,

All of my chemo sessions were liquid infusions through the PIC line in the vein going to the heart.  Each infusion started with small dose infusions of an anti-nausea, liquid Tylinol, a steroid, liquid Benedryl, and one more (don't remember what it was)--  these were intended to minimize side-effects of the actual chemo--  Taxol, Carboplatin.  Side-effects, for me, were little.  I am not familiar with chemo tablets.

Eating--  after two weeks of radiation, I could begin swallowing any food again.  I hope your husband also experiences good results.

Hi he seems to be holding up ok from chemo yesterday thankfully no sign of side effects yet just a bit tired. They started him on tablets from last night including anti sickness and steroids along with the oral chemotherapy medication. We will keep fingers crossed that there are no major side effects from treatment.

Simone