Losing so much weight: My husband who... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Losing so much weight

LaRue44 profile image
19 Replies

My husband who has had his prostate removed, radiation, chemo, hormone therapy and 5 treatments of pluvicto (this is during 8 years) is now about to either get more radiation or chemo.

He is just not eating and losing so much weight! I'm giving hime Ensure and whatever else he might eat but it's just not enough. Is the lost of taste due to treatments or the disease itself? Any suggestions?

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LaRue44 profile image
LaRue44
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19 Replies
God_Loves_Me profile image
God_Loves_Me

I drink protein shake two times in day. Here is the name : Muscle Milk Genuine Protein Shake, Vanilla Creme. I also have access to nutritionist at dr office.

Please get in touch with MO and get the access of nutritionist. many times medicine side effects include appetite lost

skiingfiend profile image
skiingfiend

I lost 15 lbs, twice, over the last 18 months due to PCa and treatments. You have to eat to maintain and gain weight back. Some exercise can help reignite a desire for food.

Try eating lots of small meals throughout the day. If your goal is to get the weight back eat calorie dense foods and don't overly fret about eating healthy. Pizza, burgers, fried chicken, peanut butter and anything else that can help put some weight back on are all good.

Even when I don't feel like eating I force myself to eat, I'm motivated to put the weight back on.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

Is medical marijuana possible where you are?

LaRue44 profile image
LaRue44 in reply toTall_Allen

Yes it is possible to get medical marijuana. The gummies he tried before didn’t help much but maybe we didn’t get the right kind.

GP24 profile image
GP24

I am afraid this is cachexia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cachexia

Mike1971 profile image
Mike1971

I would recommend medical marijuana to help with appetite, and to eat whatever he feels any hunger for. My doctor told me ”if you only feel like eating potato chips then just eat it”.

My treatment left me totally drained and depressed. I was fit before treatment but lost 65 lbs and became pretty much bone and skin for a while. If I was to do it again, I would use marijuana (even though it’s not legal where I live) and force myself to eat protein and fatty foods as much as possible. Protein or bulk shakes would be useful as well.

LaRue44 profile image
LaRue44 in reply toMike1971

Thank you we will try that.

London441 profile image
London441

Is he able to exercise? It would definitely stimulate his appetite more than any concern about what it would burn.

LaRue44 profile image
LaRue44 in reply toLondon441

We go for a walk on his good days.

Mcrpca profile image
Mcrpca

Pluvicto radiates both the salivary & parotid glands. They provide saliva and assist in swallowing. They also diminish the ability to taste food. He’s a bit far out from the Pluvicto to just now having side effects.

LaRue44 profile image
LaRue44 in reply toMcrpca

Yes I think pluvicto is a factor. He's had 5 the last one being 4 weeks ago. So hopefully as it gets out of his system he'll be able to taste food. Thank you.

FRTHBST profile image
FRTHBST

I have gone through several periods of weight loss. Not sure if they were treatment related because my treatments have been a bit out of the box, but I went to visit my brother who had not seen me in a year and and a half. I had lost 20 lbs since the last visit. The morning after arrival by the time I had gotten up, he had a 3 egg omelette with havarti cheese on the table. Something that became a routine for the whole two weeks I was there. I gained weight and realized that survival depended on eating enough. I really didn't realize how much weight I had shed until my brothers reaction. My appetite including appreciation and taste for food has come back, but it took awhile. My advice mirrors those above, simply start eating foods you remember enjoying before without worrying about fats, etc.(I did still mostly stay away from sugar) and remind yourself that getting enough nutrients is a crucial part of any successful treatment.

LaRue44 profile image
LaRue44 in reply toFRTHBST

Thank you yes eat whatever he can is what we're trying until it gets better.

FRTHBST profile image
FRTHBST in reply toLaRue44

In my case, appetite did return, keep at it!

NecessarilySo profile image
NecessarilySo

I'd be happy to donate ten pounds of Lupron belly fat if there were a way.

Did you ever try dexamethasone?I have been in a similar situation about a year ago.Within a week after starting taking 4 mg dexa daily my appetite returned and I regained most of my 40 pound loss in body weight.

LaRue44 profile image
LaRue44 in reply to

Wow!!! No I haven’t but I will research what it is! Thank you.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

Malted milk (shakes). Chocolate chip ice cream (two scoops)........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

garyjp9 profile image
garyjp9 in reply toj-o-h-n

Yum!

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