Severe weight loss

[litoreggie]

My Dad hasn’t started any treatment yet but he is EXTREMELY thin. He is 119 pounds now. Has anyone else had such extreme weight loss and did anything help to put weight back on. Also, would anyone consider such low weight to be an emergency? I very very concerned

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

It would help him overall if you could put weight on. Right now the cancer is stealing the nourishment it needs from the rest of the body.

Try feeding him cream soups, milkshakes made with Boost or Ensure. Smoothies. Add protein powder to his shakes. I lost so much weight that I finished every day with ice cream

Eventually the treatment will destroy the cancer and he’ll be able to put weight back on. At this time though he needs weight to help fight. Is he hungry? If no ask the dr for an Rx for Marinol. When is treatment supposed to start?

Do call the doctor. It’s important but not something an emergency department would handle.

[litoreggie in reply to Denzie]

He won’t eat sugar unless it’s fruit but I have been trying all kinds of tricks to fatten up his food. Adding extra butter, cream, bone broth to his food. Everything has to be super bland or he can’t handle it

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to litoreggie]

It’s time to look into an Rx for Marinol or Megace. They manage both nausea and stimulate appetite.

If he’s not eating sugars because he’s read that sugar feeds Cancer remind him that his heart and brain need them to function. Also, taking his meds is a lot less invasive than the next step which will likely be a stomach tube.

If you're in a state that allows med marijuana you may want to talk to a knowledgeable person about some tinctures.

This info from Livestrong has some other good ideas.

livestrong.com/article/2749...

[litoreggie in reply to Denzie]

Thank you, Denzie.

[FtB_Peggy]

You might find this information helpful...go to freetobreathe.org/lung-canc... and scroll down to "Additional Resources" to find a video presentation on nutrition. Small amounts of high calorie, high protein foods taken in frequently throughout the day (grazing) can sometimes be helpful. You and Denzie are right - he needs to get that weight up again.

[litoreggie in reply to FtB_Peggy]

Thank you . He was prescribed two medications one for nausea and one was an anti depressants that makes you hungry. He’s very cautious of medications and hasn’t taken them yet. Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn

[FtB_Peggy]

Oh my, sounds so familiar! My father was just like that - but you just had to love the guy!

[cmilashoski]

I hope that person that says sugar feeds cancer is wrong cause I have or had cancer since 2016 im ned now and I do eat a lot of sugar now im worried but back to your father once he starts chemo then hes probably going to lose more weight I remember my doctor giving steroids for something but ill tell you that's all wanted to do was eat eat and eat more so maybe that could help in gain weight