My husband was diagnosed with Cancer of the Oesophagus T4N1M1 about 18 months ago. He has been through two cycles of Chemo, Oxaliplatin & then Docetaxel. His last treatment was March 2020 & since then apart from the usual side effects has been able to eat reasonably well, as long as he chews his food, until now. Since just after Christmas he has been feeling very poorly, sick & weak and eating hardly anything and obviously loosing weight. He had a CT scan and we saw the oncologist for the results last Thursday. The original tumour has spread more into his stomach and more lumps have been found there too also in his right side. But we were told if he can get stronger he can have chemo again and we are due to see the Oncologist in 3 weeks, fingers crossed. At the moment he is taking Steroids to help improve his appetite, however he keeps bringing up bile and last night he had a really bad episode and was heaving for about half an hour and bringing up just a watery substance and I wondered if anyone else had suffered from this. Also can anyone suggest anything different from the Ensure drinks to help with the weight loss. I would really appreciate to hear from anyone with similar experiences.
Hi Christal
I am so sorry to read that your Husbands cancer has spread and that currently he is struggling with eating, feeling sick and weak and also that last night was particularly difficult, I hope that today has been a little easier.
With regards to eating, for putting weight on, early into my husbands diagnosis, Stage 4, T3N3M1 GOJ he had some difficulty eating, retching, struggling to keep things down, he lost a considerable amount of weight. To combat this I made smoothies, I still do even though he is doing well at this point.
Within these smoothies I put everything and anything that is high in antioxidants and potassium, raw beetroot, spinach, carrot, avocado, peaches, Kale, banana, Broccoli, walnuts, Pecans, goji berries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, green super-powder, macca or turmeric powder, fruit juice. Obviously not all at once, but in many different combinations. He would have 3 or 4 of these a day. He stopped having cows milk, choosing almond or coconut milk instead. Adding cream to the smoothies will also add to the weight gain if that is something that your Husband would like.
We have since added raisins to his diet to keep up his potassium as this was something that the hospital had an issue with.
These as I am sure you aware are easy to swallow, and would help line his stomach as well as provide him with nutrients that could be of benefit to him.
My husband is undergoing Chemotherapy, starting on similar treatments to your husband but moving after a few months onto Herceptin and fluorouracil. Treatment is improving all the time.
I am sure that there is much more that you can share with me than I can with you, as our journey only began this year. but I hope that if your husband can try combination smoothies he will find that it is the quickest way to consume a large amount of positive foods.
If he decides to try, please let me know how he gets on.
Thinking of you both.
Lowe'
Hi Christal
I know it can be difficult to change eating habits, not everyone like the texture of smoothies 
As long as Derek is managing to eat something that is a real positive. I do hope alongside you that there will be further treatment available for him, treatment he is strong enough to cope with.
Best Wishes
Lowe'
