Hi all,
I'm looking for some advice on different nutrients, supplements and food..
Basically my husband has Stage 4 oesophageal cancer, have been through chemo with some partial success, but a recent scan showed further growth and spread, so we're now trying a different chemo. It's been a pretty horrible roller-coaster... but today I'm looking for advice from 3 aspects -
1) Things that can help prevent Peripheral neuropathy - I understand that our new chemo regime (paclitaxel) can cause Peripheral neuropathy, and I wanted to know what vitamins / supplements or foods can help prevent this. I've been researching (a lot!) on the internet but there's so much info out there, so hope someone reading this post can tell me what helped them
2) Things that can help with reflux - recently had a stent fitted, sleeping a little propped up but he still gets reflux sometimes, very painful, lots of coughing and not much sleep as a result. Are there any foods in particular, or advice that can help?
3) Anything else that with help us with this battle - I've read about anti-oxidants, aloe vera, lots of other stuff but it's hard to know what's best. We have a fairly healthy diet which is a bit limited by either the stent or reflux, eg. blueberries are high in antioxidants but the doctor advised against anything with a peel like grapes, and pecans are supposed to be high in antioxidants but again am worried that nuts may not be a good idea with a stent. Whilst he doesn't like smoothies I'm sure there's other things I can make or do to help.. Also has anyone tried aloe vera shots with any success?
Sorry if I've gone on a bit..Any advice or tips would be appreciated,
thank you
x
Hello Yani10
I am sorry to read that your Husband has stage 4 OC, and that it has, even after treatment started to spread. But it is good news that further treatment is available to him.
1) Peripheral neuropathy, This is a side effect of many of the treatments, suggestions that we have been given have included buying handwarmers, and obviously stopping that particular treatment, but with your husband, as he is just about to starting his treatment, it's important to remember that it does not effect everyone. My Husband had approximately 2 months of treatment before his neuropathy started.
2) Lansoprazole Orodispersible 30mg tablets have been the absolute saving grace for my Husband. These are dissolvable tablets so there is no swallowing issues. It may be worth asking your Husbands G.P about these. We have not found that foods stop the reflux, we tend to believe that it is part of the condition.
3) Anti-Oxidants, Smoothies and positive eating. I think the G.P in regards to eating anything 'raw' with a peel or nuts is right, but smoothies, homemade are very different to shop bought and adding anything high with anti-oxidants peel and nuts included will be blitzed so well that there will be no negative effects in our experience.
I appreciate that your Husband may not like smoothies, but they really have been and continue to be a mood lifter; if my Husband does not have a homemade, high anti oxidant smoothie for about 3 days he feels different, less positive, less well. So we aim to have a smoothie at least 5 out of 7 days a week. We mix fruit, veg, nuts, Supergreen powder, Macca powder and Acacia Powder...I have to state, this is what we have found works.. Raw beetroot placed in a smoothie 3 or 4 times a week is a must..
Our blog may give you some other guidance on how we have coped with our diagnosis, which we were given in May last year, Surgery not an option, Not curable, but treatable. without treatment, 4 months prognosis, with treatment 1 year.. Here we are 9 months later, coping, Husband working from home 2 days a week, and looking good, gaining weight and staying positive.
I hope you guys can stay positive too.
Take Care
Lowe'
