My father is getting chemo threapy ..?

Question

It is also difficult for his to eat.... what is the best possible diet plan?

Answer 1

The marijuana drug is called marinol (I think). They have some good anti-nausea stuff these days and it is imperative that they be taken just as prescribed, you need to keep ahead of the nausea.

Small amounts are part of the secret, as another said a big plate full of food is overwhelming. I too ate a lot of frozen fruit pops, ensure, ice cream. I also liked melon, grapes, grilled chicken breast, and home-made beef broth.

Biotine mouthwash and toothpaste are good for tender mouths. Some people have a problem with things having metallic taste, they might find it easier to eat with plastic utensils. It is important to drink lots of fluids especially after a chemo treatment. I didn't like the taste of any water but having some flavored ones at least kept it interesting.

Good luck to you and your dad, chemo sucks but it does pass.

Answer 2

First meds...
The non narcotic side would be
an antacid will help the stomach
magic mouthwash will help with any mouth sores

On the narcotic side of things
ativan, zofran, marinol, phenegran, compazine
THere are others, these are the ones that worked for me

I lived on crackers mashed/baked potatoes, bread and popsicles.

If you can tolerate boost or any of the other diet meal replacement shakes or bars, they have a lot of calories and protein, which are the most impt things right now.

While you do need calories and protein, dont be overly concerned with getting a 'healthy' diet right now, its just not going to happen. Instead, try to eat what you can.

Also, try eating foods cold, rather than hot right off the stove. If they have cooled first (I routinly took things from the stove to the freezer for half an hour.. still do sometimes) the smell isnt as strong. For me, the smell was a huge nausea trigger.

Answer 3

I just went through this. His doctor should have handouts to give your family about eating during chemo...ask about that.

In the meantime, chemo interferes with taste so some things that he used to like are going to taste funny. The quantity that can be eaten at one time is small and a big plate full of food is revolting if you are on chemo.

These were things I could eat:

Popsicles (Otter Pops, mostly, because they were small)
Ensure (I didn't like it, but I could drink it and it added almost 300 needed calories)
Apple juice in little cans
Some ice cream--just vanilla even though I used to like ice cream with all sorts of stuff in it
Fruit cocktail in little containers (like lunchbox size)...it was good frozen or just cold from the refrigerator
Applesauce (again, in the lunch box size)
Ginger Ale (full calories--no diet anything)

I ate LOTS of those Otter Pops.

Good luck to you and your father and the rest of your family. He'll get through this and be better than ever! I know I am!

Answer 4

Whatever you do, DO NOT SMOKE MARIJUANA! It is alright to get the pills, (marinol), but marijuana has a lot of fungus in it, and when you are on chemotherapy your immune system is beaten down, and getting a fungus infection is not a good thing when on chemotherapy.
Also, about the eating thing. I had cancer and have been in remission for almost a year (knock on wood)! Anyway, I completely quit eating at one time because I was so nauseous and I got put on TPN. ( I.V. nutrition ), but when I did eat, everything sweet tasted terrible to me. So I would eat a lot of soup, crackers, and drink lots of tea. For some reason, those were the only things that I could stomach.
I hope that this helps somewhat, and I hope that you father does well.

Answer 5

See if your dad can get Zofran for nausea.

He should also take a multi-vitamin daily, yogurt is a good source of food to eat. His appetite can be poor and as longs as he can get some food in and keep the fluids going (pedialyte) he should be okay through the treatments.

Call the doctors office or go by there to get information needed. Also try to keep your dad on the upbeat (mentally) so he doesn't give up.

Answer 6

im gonna get some greif for this answer, but my when my husband went through chemo, he smoked marijauna. it helped with the nausea and increased his appitite. they also have cannibus pills available. he needs to talk to his oncologist, in the meantime, the boost and ensure drinks will help add calories, eat light foods...like...fruit cups, jello, popsicles, ice cream, yogurt.......good luck

Answer 7

Everybody else pretty much said it.. Anti-Nausea drugs like Zofran are great. Also, Skandi shakes are amazing for somebody who is losing weight due to treatments.

Answer 8

Let his own choices determine his diet until the nausea gets better.