I posted earlier about juicing. Our hospice intake nurse told me that carrot juice is the best. Then she added that broccoli would also be good for my dad. Broccoli sprouts would be even better. I did not ask her where I could get broccoli sprouts, because she said that if I get Selenium, then I wouldn't have to give him broccoli (whew! my dad is having trouble enough eating foods he normally likes. i don't want to be force feeding him broccoli!)
Is anyone here into Selenium (or broccoli or carrot juice)? Please share.
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Green_Guy
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I guess he has to maintain high fiber because opiates are so constipating, But, for God's sake, hospice is a time to eat one;s favorite foods and avoid cachexia. Marijuana may awaken his appetite. Make the end of life as good as possible.
Thanks Tall_Allen. Make the end of life as good as possible. Amen to that.
Yes, my dad is on oxycodone for pain control. I've been giving him senna and miralax to try to avoid constipation. The broccoli is not for fiber, but was told it was for Selenium which is apparently good for cancer patients. I had never heard of cachexia so I had to look it up.
Don't worry, I've been trying to give my dad food that he likes. Unfortunately, the last several days he's lost his appetite and barely eats. He's 98 and has full denture on top, so he can't chew hard foods, and with his weakness on top of that, it's pretty tough. Now with little appetite, I am glad for Ensure Plus (dark chocolate is the best IMHO).
I will consider the marijuana option to try to improve his appetite. We have that readily available where I am, here in the SF Bay Area. It didn't work for my mom, who had esophageal cancer. At that time, I tried using a tincture.
Forget the selenium or any other minerals and supplements. It will do him no good. You are taking advice from someone who doesn't know anything about prostate cancer and is just trying to be helpful - just smile, say thanks, and give him whatever he likes to eat and can eat. With my father, we used the food processor to grind food to a paste.
Yes, let me tell you that I totally sympathize with you on this. Exactly what my dad went through. It’s totally heartbreaking.Although, it’s with the best intentions that people are suggesting to eat whatever you want, from my experience it just might not be possible. My dad had a total loss of appetite which got worse by the day. It can become EXTREMELY stressful when family members are persistent with food and the appetite just isn’t there. I’d consider anything.
It’s important to understand though that no one’s the same and react differently.
He would try but just couldn’t hold anything down. If he forced it he would be sick. Eventually the only thing he could hold down were some supplemental fortified yogurt type drinks. Eventually he couldn’t manage even those. Juicing maybe a good option for you at some stage. One thing I would suggest though is be very careful with hydration, especially if he throws the food back up.
Thank you, Nalakrats (that's an interesting name, btw...I wonder if it's your real name or a nickname that has something to do with rats...) Before my dad got an MRI on 3/9 that revealed he had cancer metastasis on his spine, he was being treated for back pain. I did go to a marijuana store and got him some balm that is 1:3 THC rich (I think CBD/Indica is 1 and 3 is THC). I would have thought that it would be the other way around, but this was the advice of the store personnel that I trusted. Now, I wonder how that balm will taste on a cracker Thanks for the prayers.
The best thing to use to juice is with a slow emasculating juicer. It’s all pretty straight forward. You can also include the carrot tops. If it was me I’d use broccoli sprouts over broccoli. They have a LOT more sulforaphane than broccoli. You can add a stem of broccoli to carrot juice and hardly taste it. If you want to juice sprouted broccoli can can also freeze them before. This breaks open the fibers and gives you more nutrients.
Also, you can sprout you own broccoli seeds. You yield a LOT from going this and is extremely cost effective. You can harvest in around a week. I find it’s much easier to graze on broccoli seeds.
Graze on broccoli seeds? Isn't it grazing on the grass? Wait a minute, I'm sure it's grazing in the grass. Will all of you rabbits please direct your hate mail to j-o-h-n.
Thanks all for your comments. I will get back to you more, when I have more time. I like the idea of using the juicer to blend other foods (besides carrots). I got a slow masticating juicer. Now it's scheduled to arrive tomorrow before 8pm. Regarding the comments about letting him go, there is an excellent book that I read a few years ago called "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande. It was recommended to me by my retired surgeon cousin in Japan. He recommended that both my dad and I read it. My dad is well read man, but he wasn't interested in reading it. I got a copy at the library and thought it was excellent. I should just purchase it now so I can refer to it again.
I am so sorry that it seems you will be letting go of your dad soon. I know you want to do something to help him, anything that will help. His wishes should be number one at this time. If he doesn't want to be force fed Gerber food, I think you should follow his wishes. I have no answers and am very sorry of where you and dad are. Very few of us here will be able to celebrate 98 years of life. Please take care of yourself. Do something nice for yourself. You deserve it. Let go of the stress. Make your dad as comfortable as you can. My best of wishes to you and family.
We are holding you and your dad in our kindest hearts.
May God bless your dad at 98 .. A loving child is his great reward! Anything to cheer him up . Whatever he wants . My dad died at just 71 a yr after his prostate was out . He would be 97 if he was still here . Still my hero .
Well said! Letting our dad go was tough. One of my brothers kept trying to force him to eat and drink. Finally, we were able to help him recognize that Daddy was transitioning, in a calm and peaceful way, with his loved ones nearby to usher him out.
I’m so grateful for the times with him to hold his hand, put on barbershop quartet music and just be….sometimes reminiscing, mostly being quiet.
Wishing you and your family peace and comfort during this life experience.
I thought the best souce of selenium was garlic. I read about one guy who ate eight cloves of garlic a day to control his PC for 20 years. I have used lycopenes for the past 10 years, (plus ADT): spaghetti sauce, taco sauce, catsup, shrimp sauce, etc.
At this point and precious time you have given him never estimate the nourishments of receptiveness love you both have given. My mother past in hospice and we both knew with limited words and holding hands but her eyes always told me the path it has taken.She until the last day I love you and put the cross above my forehead with relief. For me she made feel I did the best I could as a son.This is not easy letting go because it’s not but at some point you can’t look as you weren’t the best for those moment because you were there and that speaks volumes
Thank you, Metaldraft. That's all we can do, isn't it? We just do our best, and let God take care of the rest. And let's let that be good enough. I really don't care what other people think whether I am doing a good job or bad job. He's my dad and I am going to do what I think will honor him and do what is right. It's great when I can get support, but I am also in the process of letting him go. That doesn't mean that I am not there for him, but you know all that. Thanks again. I think you rock.
I eat Brocoli and carrots with avocado, Kale, Brocoli sprouts , alfalfa sprouts and mushrooms tomatoes everyday and my psa keep going down after my raditaion treatments and eating healthy for prevention of it coming back. tomatoes are best because it has lycopene which is the best to fight and prevention PCancer.
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Thanks for the prayers.
Dad has advanced prostate cancer 
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