No Appetite no energy is this normal

[Hermitageni]

Hi My Mum was diagnosed with Stg 3 lung cancer in October, she had 5 days of radiotherapy in November and apart from that on no medication or not getting any treatment at the minute but she has very little appetite and has no energy, she says a lot of foods taste terrible but apart from that there is no physical impediment to eating. We have tried all sorts of different foods and also drinks but nothing is working, Just finished 2 weeks of steroids which had little to no impact.

Has anyone else experienced this and how can we get the brain to kickstart her eating.

Thanks

[Kalilou2]

I was also stage 3b and I had six weeks of radio and four big rounds of chemo.

That was finished in April last year but my appetite is still rubbish some days I eat better than others but in the beginning I ate more sweet stuff and pastries plus loads of carbs which I don’t eat much of but it kept my weight up which was good.

Just try to get her to eat more of what she fancies even if it’s a few bites here and there is better than nothing.

I also bought In Complan soup chicken and veg wasn’t too bad.

Xx hope she gets better soon

[Hermitageni in reply to Kalilou2]

Thanks for your advice.......strangely she has totally gone off sweet stuff. I have just bought new yoghurts with 20g of protein per pot so hopefully she likes those.

[Leniko in reply to Hermitageni]

yes, I could only eat tart stuff

[Davemac05]

Hi, I have the same problem but I have been eating soups pudding with customer along with milk shake and complan energy drinks, not idea but it has regulated the weight loss. I drink orange juice and eat grapes and pears, sometimes I have to persevere to eat but not doing to bad.

[Hermitageni in reply to Davemac05]

Thanks for the reply sounds like you just have to keep trying different things.

[Davemac05]

Custard

[rottenrunner]

hi Hermitageni sorry to hear about your mum not having much of an appetite, after chemo my tastes changed, I was on a lot of steroids, so that may be something to do with it, maybe much smaller portions but often, I couldn't drink water, I had to have the barley water was the only way I could drink water, maybe powdered meals or the milkshake type ones, just keep trying and to be 100% positive, have a look at the Follow My Lead campaign, lot's of inspiring stories there, feeling over whelmed by it all could certainly affect someone's appetite on its own, I wish you and your family all the best with this and it will get better, there's so much positivity on here to help you all, good luck and hope your mum is enjoying her food again very soon, good luck and sending lots of good thoughts to you all,

Dave

😊👍❤👊

[Hermitageni in reply to rottenrunner]

Thanks for the advice I will definitely have a look at that campaign. Mum also cant drink water anymore but seems to like energy drinks which she never would have drank before......keep positive!

[rottenrunner in reply to Hermitageni]

hi Hermitageni it's all about small steps with this hopefully the drinks will help and probably very bland food, very boring but it's helps getting you through it, and there is the other side waiting for you, never back to normal but a different life eventually good luck 😊👍❤👊

[Kalilou2 in reply to rottenrunner]

You reminded me about water. I couldn’t stand it x

I’m still off meat up and down with that as well.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi Hermitageni,

I have attached a link from cancer Research UK which gives advice and diet tips for someone with cancer. about-cancer.cancerresearch...

Kind regards,

The Roy Castle Support team

[JanetteR57]

some of the hints/tips about nutrition include cream, fat, diary. - all of which I found created more mucous for me although I'm unsure if that's common. Home made soups are a good way of having nutritious food even if swallowing/chewing (whilst trying to breath in a different way) can be tricky. Tropical fruit is what I tend to go back to when on steroids or taste affected by meds. It can be the condition, the treatment (Radiotherapy/chemo) or meds that contribute to this. Little snacks/meals but more frequent are one way to take in calories. hope this improves for her soon.