No Appetite, Cant Eat, Nauseas - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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No Appetite, Cant Eat, Nauseas

MrJack profile image
32 Replies

Man all of a sudden after my 11th round of Chemo, I have lost my appetite all together ,

I have a sour stomach and don't feel like eatin.

chemo med Jevtana / cabazitaxel , had terrible time, constipated (failed to take enough laxative) Blood in Urine problem, etc.... palliative said he could give me a pill (remeron) anti depressant, for nausea /stomach ache , that should make me want to eat. I hope this is only temporary , is that a possibility?

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MrJack
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32 Replies
Burnett1948 profile image
Burnett1948

Burnett1948 Kiwi fruit is the best laxative.

MrJack profile image
MrJack in reply to Burnett1948

prunes and prune juice too

ctarleton profile image
ctarleton

Sorry to hear.

How many Rounds of Jevtana (cabazitaxel) do you have left?

You might find some other Appetite ideas toward the bottom of this link.

cancer.net/navigating-cance...

Charles

MrJack profile image
MrJack in reply to ctarleton

I keep taking chemo as long as it works and as long as I can stand it.

I have had 11 rounds total, and my psa is now 3.8 and trending upward. :-(

when this chemo stops working then my Onc, has a couple of drugs he wants to go back and re-vist , I guess he has a couple tricks up his sleeve, and then I will move on to experimental clinical trials, oh joy... it has been a wonderful life, I feel like I am running out of time, I have more sick days now then good days :-(

I will keep trying to fight and hang on.

thanks

jack

ctarleton profile image
ctarleton in reply to MrJack

Wow. It must be so hard, both physically and mentally. I will likely be in a similar situation some time down the road in the eventual progression of my disease. It scares me to think about it. I'm very thankful to be able to interact with brave men like you who living it in the here and now.

I'm curious, do you and/or your Onc have a certain PSA and/or symptoms/scan results Threshold at which Jevtana will be considered ineffective, and stopped for you?

Until then, I'm sure you are already well aware of this Section of the info about Jevtana, concerning reductions in dose, or discontinuance of dose, depending upon Side Effects Toxicities.

"2.2 Dose Modifications" as listed in this (or a more recent) document:

accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatf...

Charles

MrJack profile image
MrJack in reply to ctarleton

I think the psa number is around 20, when we have to move on to something else, or I simply cant take anymore chemo. also I believe my jevtana dose is 20% lower than suggested because I got sick on my first chemo dose , that is a good fact sheet on jevtana.

MelaniePaul profile image
MelaniePaul in reply to MrJack

Well, Jack, maybe you could try another drug? It obviously makes you suffer a lot. Nobody should have more sick days than good days, I think. Go to your oncologist and have another chat. Or even get a second opinion. I think that is what we would do.

You are very brave in the way you are taking all this, but maybe it is time to think of kindness to yourself as well. Maybe what your body is telling you is that it is just too hard to take this particular treatment any longer.

Mel.

MrJack profile image
MrJack in reply to MelaniePaul

I don't think I'm brave, remember I'm doing all this because I have to do it. sometimes I cry a lot too.

in reply to MrJack

Mrjack, stick it out ..I believe things can change for the better for you.. don’t give up hope .. you re under full assault right now... Eating is essential. I’m pulling for you to jump this hurdle . Get thru the chemo. Sounds like the doctor has your respect and will know what to do...Other tools might be needed. I pray for you to get thru this current hell and live more wonderful days away from the suffering

BOERNEBUNNY profile image
BOERNEBUNNY

MrJack - Sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Bob is in the same boat - 4 docetaxels and fail, now 4 of 6 cabazitaxel and carboplatin combos. He eats very little. He was in the hospital with UTI/bladder infection that went septic. Since he was in the hospital and a rehab facility for ten days, he qualifies for home health care. They send a nurse, physical and occupational therapists. I hope this helps to get his strength back. He is pretty exhausted from the treatments and infection. I hope that it only temporary too - think it will be better when the chemo stops. We keeping telling each other that we'll make it through this - two more treatments to go. My sister's oncologist said to eat "anything" that will stay down - she ate alot of ice cream and she's diabetic. Keeping you in our prayers!

It'll pass. Keep with it. I did almost 14 years ago. BTW, when I did chemo, I was told absolutely no milk products.

GD

patandemma profile image
patandemma in reply to

I did not have the problem but my suggestion to keep up fluid and protein intake if this lasts a while would be to buy some pea-protein based protein powder. NO WHEY based-a number of people have unsuspected lactase deficiency as gourd-dancer seems to have heard. Also if you have been semi-starving for a while the absorptive lining of your small intestine may not be able to handle a load of lactose temporarily. You can make a smoothy of the powder in 2 cups of soy or almond milk and take sips over next 4 hours. Do this three times a day-thats 48 ounces of fluid and 62-or more grams protein total per 24 hours

I have no input here, MrJack, other than to say I wish you well. Blood in the urine was about the scariest thing I had ever experienced. Not being able to eat is another ball game altogether. Good luck.

Joe

I agree with Nalakrats on that matter. It keeps my met pain at bay.

I recently ran into a guy who can get Rick Simpson Oil. I'm in a so-called legal state where no doctors seem to be on board. This is from Cal I think, and I'm waiting to find out the cost. After doing some research, I found that RSO isn't an actual product, but a specific way to manipulate MJ to it's basic oil resin. This is in contrast to how waxes and oils are made for the mass market. Every month, my Onc "whacks" on my spine and no pain at all. I support cannabis usage for medicinal purposes, because I know it works.

Joe

MelaniePaul profile image
MelaniePaul in reply to

Hi Jo and all.

Oh yes, we support cannabis use for medicinal purposes as well. I is not legal in Ireland yet. But there is a company in the Netherlands that ships to other countries where you can get the cannabis oil.

Mel.

I think that's a good thing Nalakrats. It proves that men your age still can have an open mind, and are not afraid of new/really old ways of treatment. I'm 58, and the only time in my life where pot wasn't involved, was when I was in the military. And, even then, I knew some guys who smoked. If it weren't so demonized by the MAN, we'd be living in a Utopia.

Joe

Dalewhiplash profile image
Dalewhiplash

There is a lot of truth to this.

Towards the end of my treatments, I was not eating and was hurting big time.

A friend I made there told me right after dark, meet him at the little park across the street.

There was 8 others there and we all were cancer patients. So I smoked some with them. I went to the grocery store next door and bought 2lbs of shrimp and ate them all. Then went to bed. It was the best nights sleep I had in years!

It sure don't hurt to try.

Dalewhiplash profile image
Dalewhiplash

True. But that's what sounded good at the time and I kept it down.

The next day, I went to Pizza hut for hot wings.

Once I was able to eat something, I was able to eat and keep it down.

After treatments, I got my appetite back. Problem is now, I still eat too much but I have a little "reserve" around the middle.

eggraj8 profile image
eggraj8

I have gone trough 8 Chemo (Docetaxil & Carboplatin) . don't have problem yet about eating although the loss of taste makes eating not as appealing as in the past. Since I have no idea when I will stop the Chemo I will be at 11 in about 8 weeks.

Then, do I have a story for you. I once worked at a gas station in Feasterville, PA., in the 70's. I was 16-17 at the time. I pumped gas, and took orders from the boss, usually to bring the days cash to his home. The owner was a biker type, with a lot of friends. The regulars were the mechanic's, and a guy who was a bit different. He was a chemist also. He was a car freak too, and did he build some badass cars. He owned a 50-ish Black Lightning motorcycle that sat in the front window of the station.

What I remember him for was this, and I say this now many moons later. He made a synthetic mj, by taking a pound of pot, reducing it to it's basic components, then replacing these components with man-made materials. I can say one thing about it, it was killer. And, you know what? You'd be about his age. How about that?

Joe

C'mon man. You fish, and I'm certain you eat what you catch. What's up with shrimp, I have two pounds ready to be eaten. Are lobster, crab, and crawfish, out too? Not in my book. These are the tastiest critters in the ocean, IMO. I have to admit, I love to fish, but I'm not particular to eating it. Except, something like shark or any meaty fish. Don't you do any fresh water fishing? I love it. My problem is, at 58, I still lose every lure I buy. I suck at it, until I hit something, then I don't suck anymore. That's the way it is.

Peace, Joe

Shepard profile image
Shepard

It will get better if you can keep your gut healthy. Probiotics help and are available from dairy and non-dairy sources.

MrJack profile image
MrJack in reply to Shepard

yea, it has improved, my diet has gotten better, but not there yet, my gosh it has taken me a long time, about 7days just to rehab, I was really tore up, got a few more grey hairs now.

Shepard profile image
Shepard

I had and still do have changes in appetite. Lived on plain baked or boiled sweet potatoes for a week. I still do not care for meat (okay for seasoning.) Fair rule for the short term for me was listen to my body and I found the eating less of a challenge. Best wishes.

MrJack profile image
MrJack

my appetite has improved, but its not the same, like it used to be.

I can eat now but everything tastes weird, or bad.

paulofaus profile image
paulofaus

Can you point me to a paper Nal? My Oncologist told me there's no evidence that Metformin helps (actually she says that every time I ask anything).

paulofaus profile image
paulofaus

Thank you.

MelaniePaul profile image
MelaniePaul

I am sorry to hear that. My husband and I try to deal with his occasional nausea and stomach ache by adjusting our diet. On days when it is bad we would have only a light soup and things that can be digested easily. We try to stay away from extra medication as long as possible. Having said this, my husband is not on Chemo but on Aberaterone.

Mel.

Too many gods, too many religions. Man made their gods how they saw fit.

Peace, Joe

Let me ask you this...Do you agree with the Repub senator who said that god will fix climate change? I don't. When will mankind see things for what they are?

I agree, this is certainly not the platform, but I did not mention politics, you did. I just mentioned a god fearing man who thinks that his god will do things that no 'god' has ever done.

Joe

wifeofvet profile image
wifeofvet

my dad put black pepper on everything, including ice cream, to cover up the weird taste in his mouth from chemo. he said he couldn't taste the black pepper at all.

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