Loss of appetite

[Snowsquall]

I have previously posted but they seem to go to another area. I was recently diagnosed with adenocarcinoma A1. Shortly afterward I noticed I lost my appetite. I am wondering if the cancer has caused this lack of appetite or is it just from anxiety of what comes next? If anybody else has experienced this would you please reply.

Thanks. It is good to have a place like this.

[Feelingblessed2013]

Talk to your doctor about this.

Where is the cancer? What treatments are you getting, or have you gotten? I lost my appetite after they found a spot on my lung, but that was just stress and nerves. I also lost my appetite after my chemo treatments.

[Snowsquall in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Thanks for your reply. I think mine is just stress waiting for appointments. No doctor consultation for surgery yet.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Have you had any surgery for this yet? I’m grateful that yours was caught at such an early stage. Early stage long cancers can be cured. I’ve met people who’ve lived over 30 years post surgery for stage 1a lung cancer. I send hope that this is you, too.

At this time and place in the lung cancer fight I suspect it is stress and anxiety affecting your appetite. Discuss this with your doctor. There are anti anxiety meds that can relieve that anxiety. We are the patients for whom those medications were created. Also, there are a number of appetite stimulants that may help including marinol and megace.

Please let us know how treatment goes and what you try that does eventually help with your appetite.

[Snowsquall in reply to Denzie]

Thanks so much for your reply. I came to your conclusion that it is only stress. I eat but just don't enjoy it. I take as little medication as possible so will muddle through. Mostly it is loss of sleep that bothers me but I have just learned to go with the flow since I am retired and don't have too many responsibilities. I'm just impatient to get a cure over with.

[Gatorb8]

Hi there! I think it is anxiety. You are very lucky to find this so early stage and you will likely have a good prognosis. Try to have your surgery at a major cancer center as soon as you can. I have my lower left lung lobe removed 6 months ago and I don’t miss it at all. The surgery via VATS is not bad. You are out of the hospital in 3-4 days and back to normal after about 4/6 weeks. Good luck to you!

[Snowsquall in reply to Gatorb8]

Thanks so much to all of you. I finally have a surgery date of February 4 and will report back after that. Best to you all.

[JanetteR57]

anxiety is understandable but don't give up. That is an early stage and there are treatments with curative intent. My tumour was 7cm and removed with half my upper left lung through open not keyhole surgery in Dec 2010. I was back at work at the end of March 2011 and swimming. I've met many people who have survived 20+ years - some who had surgery and some who didn't and that was before the latest many different treatments and different combination of treatments. Anxiety and stress can cause all sorts of gastric issues that people believe are a physical condition in their own right but prove to be part of the physical response to stress. there is some clear explanations about the different types and stages of lung cancers and the treatments as well as living with lung cancer on the Roy Castle lung cancer foundation website. good luck.

[Snowsquall in reply to JanetteR57]

Thanx for the tips