Diet for a patient of myelofabrosis

[nidaali]

My mother in law is suffering with myelofabrosis and rapidly losing weight. Kindly guide me for good diet

[Rachelthepotter]

Dear Nidaali

I have MF too, and when I reach the stage of loosing weight I hope that I have the help of a caring concerned daughter in law like you.

I am not an expert , but there seem to be no experts yet in this field.

Here is an extract from a recent research paper.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

“The authors emphasize that:

a “healthy diet” as currently defined in our culture (i.e. low fat, high fiber, five portions of fruit and vegetables daily) has no proven benefit for someone with advanced cancer

patients will typically eat more of the things they enjoy or find easiest to eat

cold foods, soft foods and fluids can provide the same nutrients as cooked meals

cancer causes metabolic change that suppresses appetite, these changes are out of the patient's control and should not serve as an indication of not trying to eat, emotional weakness or giving up.”

Which I read as - keep offering your mother in law the things she likes and finds easiest to eat.

If she doesn’t have much appetite that’s the disease, not her.

All the best

Rachel

[jane13]

your mother-in-law may have an enlarged spleen, which presses on her stomach and makes her feel full up very quickly. So suggest smaller amounts of food more often. As Rachel says, don't worry too much about "healthy" eating, offer higher calorie snacks if she likes them.

[JediReject]

Hi NidaalI , if your mum in laws MF is quite advanced and depending where you live she may be eligible for the drug Ruxolitinib if not taking it already. One of the known side effects is weight gain as it improves ones general wellbeing and therefore appetite.

Most peops that take it report weight gain, for some it's good and others not so.

Diet wise , well I don't think it really matters that much just whatever she feels like eating so long as she gets all the nutrients.

You need to have a discussion with her Haematologist if her weight loss continues.

Regards Chris