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Loss of appetite during chemo

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

13 years ago

My question is not for me but for a good friend who has been undergoing chemotherapy for quite a long time. His biggest complaint, right now, is a terrible loss of appetite. Does anyone here around the KT have any advice that I might pass on?

Thanks for any help.

Dorie

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Comments (15)

glenda_al
13 years ago
Best wishes and good thoughts for your friend
Charlee_MO
13 years ago
His doctor can prescribe an appetite stimulant. I don't have any personal experience since Glen always had a good appetite.
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country_bumpkin_al
13 years ago
They gave my husband a prescription to help his appetite when he was going through chemo and radiation. It was Magace or something like that. His was a liquid but it also comes in pill form, because I have a friend that takes it to help her gain weight (she isn't going through any kind of treatments).

Thoughts and Prayers for your friend!!
nanny98
13 years ago
Someone on the cooking forum posted a recipe for making icecream using ensure. Sounded good. Nanny
lynn_d
13 years ago
Different types of therapy must have different side effects, my friend had an appetite but nothing tasted good, everything tasted metallic to her, and she could not taste spicey hot or sour flavors at all.

Good wishes to your friend.
susie53_gw
13 years ago
For some reason the only thing that tasted good to me when I was going through my cemo was a roast beef sandwich. We tried to keep them in the freezer.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks so much, you guys are the best! The ice cream recipe is exactly what I was hoping for. Wouldn't have to be Ensure, but any one of many excellent 'shakes'. Thanks again!
Jodi_SoCal
13 years ago
My dear sister-in-law is going through chemo right now and she too was experiencing a loss of appetite. She went to an acupuncturist and tells me it helped some. She also drinks Ensure just to get some nutrients in her.

Jodi-
ruthieg__tx
13 years ago
My doctor gave me an appetite stimulant too. I don't remember what it was but it worked. I ate way too many sweets but my doctor told me she didn't care what I ate, she just wanted me to eat and I did. I actually gained 30 pounds and I still have it hanging around.

Find something he likes and tell him to just get his fill. My husband and all my friends kept a constant supply of baked goods, especially things like doughnuts etc and I ate and ate and ate and ate and ...well you get the picture. Now I wish I had controlled it somewhat.
sheilajoyce_gw
13 years ago
My friend found she could manage those frozen juice mixes from the little shops that sell them. You can get various fruits and yogurt and some supplements churned into the slushy drinks.
kacram
13 years ago
I think Magace is it. MaryAnn had to use it and said that
it worked. I have the other problem. I gained 40 pounds
with chemo. Im still getting some, but not an awful chemo
and I'm trying to lose it, but the docs dont really want
you to. Well, not more than 1/4 or 1/2 pound a week! lol

good luck!
nanny98
13 years ago
Subject: Ensure Ice Cream

A family member has had health issues lately and his doctors have recommended Ensure. But if you have ever tried it, (and I did, out of solidarity), you might find as we did, that it is dreadful. Even more so, if you are under 85 years old. However, I did find a recipe for Ensure ice cream that is pretty good. My family member said it is a huge improvement. So, here it is for those of you who know someone who drinks Ensure by necessity and not choice:

Ensure Ice Cream
Ingredients:

1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 Tbsp cold water
3 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp light corn syrup
1Ã¯Â¿Â½ cups of any flavor Ensure
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1) Soften gelatin in cold water.
2) Add sugar and corn syrup. Heat slowly to dissolve sugar and gelatin.
3) Combine Ensure, oil and gelatin-sugar mixture. Mix well and pour into blender. Blender capacity should be at least 5 cups. Blend for a few minutes on high.
4) Add vanilla extract, if desired, and mix well. Or add fruit to the blender at this point. Blend well.
5) Pour blended mix into an 8x8 square pan (or individual dishes. Freeze until very firm.

Make three Ã¯Â¿Â½ cup servings.

Nutritional Information
Calories 120
Protein 2 g
Carbohydrate 15 g
Fat 6 g
Sodium 40 g
Potassium 60 g
maryanntx
13 years ago
I completely lost my appetite and went from 135 lbs to 98 lbs. I started taking Megace and it was wonderful. I still take it. Otherwise I wouldn't want to eat anything. It's very expensive. I hope he has good insurance. A 150 ml bottle is almost $700.
pammyfay
13 years ago
Megace or Marinol, the synthetic substitutes for the main component in marijuana, seem to get a lot of publicity for reducing nausea, which generally causes a loss of appetite.
roseluver
13 years ago
Nothing really tasted good to me. I lost a lot of weight. The only thing I remember tasting good was pizza and spaghetti. I could taste the spices.

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