i think this sign goes too far.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/page/pic/slideshow/?o=aw&pic_id=40753&v=p1

i ate gallons of ice cream after my treatment and i think it served me well.

chocolate was a challenge because it was colder than most... but i fought thru that too.

what other flavors do you all like?

cu,
larryb

Now thats just plain mean ...NO ICE CREAM!!

Have not met one I didn`t like ....bring `em on bring `em ALL on....lol

Did you go on that bike ride Larry?
Marica

I'm still eating tons of ice cream daily Larry. Mixed in with the smoothie's. Strawberry, chocolet and vanilla. A hot fudge sunday doesn't hurt either. Cheesecake helps to.
Danny Boy

Just moments ago I finished a heaping dish of Cookie Dough and Extreme Chocolate.

Cathy G

Excuse me please, while I go to the kitchen. Amy

Speaking of Ice cream. I have a question.

Harry has been out of treatments now since May and his first 3 month check up is this month.

I bought him this gigantic jug of muscle builder weight gain stuff from the muscleman store. He mixes it with ice cream, milk, and boost.

Still he does not gain any weight. He has hovered around 150, up and down a couple of pounds every now and then but he has not really made any move upward at all.

Is this normal? When should we worry about him gaining? He has not lost anymore significant weight. Like I said he fluxes up and down a couple of pounds but he is likewise not gaining anything either.

Thanks,
Cindy

You know what Cindy? I bought some of that mega muscle stuff too with "Weight Gainer" written across this huge plastic gallon tub. It hasn't helped me gain an ounce. When I seriously tried to use it, my body dumped it out either end. Someone on this very forum told me that it was one of the drawbacks to the protein powder, especially the "weight gainer" stuff.

I've been trying to eat stuff like cheeseburgers, fries, ice cream and last night I stuffed myself with cheesecake BEFORE going to bed. My Chinese radiation oncologist even suggested eating ice cream before bedtime (so I've taken that a step further to just feast in general and making sure I brush my teeth before passing out into sleep) Even with this sort of schedule of eating, invariably my body still wants to reject it. I'm getting use to getting up at three or four in the morning to run into the bathroom.

I'm trying to be patient with the weight gain these days. As long as I continue to eat and enjoy doing so, I'm hoping that sooner or later I'll be like others here and have to start cutting back on the calories. Others have also told me that the metabolism changes and may take years to kick back into normal gear again.

Jen

Jen, I am stuffing my husband like a "Christmas goose" right now. I'm cooking tons of veggies in chicken stock and butter, pasta, pasta, pasta in cream or tomato sauces, rich bean soups with bits of ham, long and slow cooked pot roasts so the meat falls off the bone, roast turkey[completely covered in foil to keep it moist]steamed fish,chopped apples sauteed in water and butter, etc. This was our last 7 days menu. Maybe your system could tolerate more of this kind of food and less dairy, sugar and grease.

this is a test. i just wrote a message that was blocked.. i want to see if i have a problem or not.

more later,
cu,
larryb

JAM, I would love it if you would come and cook for me. I sometimes envy those patients that have caregivers constantly cooking and fixing for them. Now, I'm grateful that I have improved since treatment, but it's all I can do sometimes to do the bare necessities of my house (Ironically nobody ever took over laundry detail) and my children are happy that my husband is no longer trying to cook for them.

Here's the rub, though. It takes almost total focus for me to gather the groceries, spend time on my feet cooking and then having the energy to eat. Right now it's easier for me to just take myself through a drive thru. And I must confess we have quite a few meals out because sometimes I am just too pooped to cook.

I try to keep alot of goodies around to tempt me like ice cream bars, fudgesicles, ice cream, puddings and cheesecake. With three teenagers in the house and a hungry spouse, it's a common thing to go to the kitchen and find out that some rat has eaten ALL of my stuff and only an empty carton remains. I try to buy double on the treats just so when I do go to the freezer or fridge that there is a good chance that I'll have something to nibble on.

They also sometimes forget that I'm not 100% better yet and constantly suggest foods that might cause me problems. Today for lunch, my well intentioned spouse chose a really rough sort of rustic wheat bread that really gave me problems. Anymore, I try to make do with whatever, but sometimes it's tough.

Any patient out there that has a spouse who can cook and adapt menu items to keep them going is surely a lucky duck to have that sort of support. Then again, I'm glad that I at least have the money and energy to get myself to the grocery store or restaurant when a craving for food hits. Hopefully, now that I'm on the road to recovery, my energy and stamina will once again kick in and I can be the chef again that I use to be. Winter is on it's way and I already cannot wait for winter squash, soups and stews.

Jen

Jen

Jen, if I were you, I'd give my family a good swift kick in their collective butts or better yet, just announce that you are headed for a spa for a month or so and "see y'all later". After I had a stroke, John did all the cooking, shopping and helped with household chores for 7 months while I was recovering.Sounds to me like they are spoiled rotten.I wish I could cook for you. Amy

Could you come here too?

My husband is actually quite a good cook but has shown minimal interest in cooking stuff that might get me eating again. Instead he pretty much just cooks for himeslef and every week or so, he tries shoving pudding from the store at me. That hasn't worked so far so maybe he's jusyt given up and figures if I can't do pudding I can't do anything else. He does do the shopping. Houshold chores he does if he likes them (like laundry--no problem htough he won't fold things but vacuuming? Forget it) But basicaly he's really not cut out to be much of a caretake. What you lean about people can be disappointing when you go through cancer.

This household has gone through its fair share of ice cream since discovering The Shake. Love the Buy One-Get One specials
Cindy, Tom's treatment finished up in December and he, too, can't seem to get the scale to register more than 150 lbs. He is eating MUCH better now (avoiding those things he knows will cause trouble), but he's been doing a lot of reading on "cancer-friendly" foods and those, of course, are the ones that could possibly add the weight. Cancers thrive in acid environments, and Ice Cream is one of the Most Acid foods available He's been trying to get around that, but we are kind of thinking the weight is the most important thing right now, for if he should get sick this winter, he just doesn't have any reserves on which to draw.
Larryb, PEACH has been a big favorite flavor this summer. Don't know to what flavor he'll be switching this season. Butter pecan is a good possibility!
He's busy tonight installing a new hot tub with a special 'neck blaster' jet which we are hoping will help him with the therapy/recovery in the neck and shoulders. He says he's so tired of feeling handicapped when all he wants to do is reach to the center of the dinner table for the salt (cancer cells don't like salt !
Enjoy life, everyone!
Nicki

Gee, I didn't know cancer cells don't like salt. and yuk, John is eating lots of icecream because he can't get past 145 lbs. Amy

Nicki....where are you getting this information that cancer cells don't like salt ( and since it is a normal component of your blood as sodium, and other fluids in our body, what makes you think that eating it would have any impact) and this comment that cancers thrive in acid environments..... again, that ingestion of somethinjg like ice cream would creat a cancer friendly environment. I'm not sure you are getting good information from whatever the source is. It certainly doesn't match up to what the chemo prevention experts at some of the major cancer centers are looking at.

JAM has got the right idea, it isn't just about calories...it's about good nutrients that provide the vitamins, mineral, proteins etc, to heal properly, and stay in good health once there. You guys sound like you are going to survive cancer only to die of clogged arteries.....everything in moderation.

Brian you are funny. Speaking of surviving and maybe a little off the ice cream topic....I recently made a similar comment to my spouse. He has developed terrible sleep apnea since radiation and chemo and now he has a machine to breathe with at night. He has had this machine for over a month but never really used it because he said it was too strong and he couldn't breathe. 2 days ago the company finally came and adjusted the machine so he can breathe with it. I have not been able to sleep with him because it is frightening. So the other night he finally used it. I was having trouble sleeping and went down for water around 3am. He assumed I wasn't coming back to bed and turned the machine off.

I told him that this was a life and death thing and I said it sure would be a terrible thing to survive cancer and die because you refused to use a machine.

As for the arteries, he eats mostly good foods and I am guessing that the mucleman stuff isn't really working but I am really at a loss of what to try next. Eating is still somewhat difficult and I suck as a cook so my menu is way too limited.

We will just keep plugging away I guess.

Cindy

Cindy, hey, we are off the island right now- in the real world so to speak-. Do you want some things to cook that Harry and the kids both might eat? Or do you want some suggestions of prepared foods that Harry could eat? Amy

Probably the former, Amy. See because I am domestically challenged I have enough trouble fixing meals for all of us. I dare not attempt separate meals for fear of starving everyone. haha but true.

if you have any ideas (other than pot pies!) I am open.

Thanks for asking.

Cindy

Hi Cindy --

Your husband's DX sounds like my husband's (tonsil, base of tongue and 2 nodes) but they staged it "sort of between 3 and 4" not that it made a difference in treatment.

One fairly easy thing to make that everyone can eat, that uses all pre-prepared or canned stuff:

Cream of Crab soup: (very caloric)

1 pint canned or boxed chicken stock
1 14 oz. can sliced white potatoes
1/2 pound claw crab meat
1/2 onion chopped or use dried onion flakes
1 pint light cream
Seasoning -- salt and pepper in moderation, esp. if someone has a sore mouth. Have Old Bay Seasoning on side to add to non-sore-mouth bowls -- it is too "hot" for someone with radiation sores.

Put stock, canned potatoes (drained), onion or onion flakes in pot, heat to boiling then lower heat and simmer. When onion is soft, add crab meat. Simmer about 5 minutes, and at same time, break up crab meat with spoon into smallish bits. Add pint of cream, stir, bring back to almost a boil, remove from heat. Soup is best if left for flavors to "merge" overnight and then reheated, but can be eaten immediately.

If someone is having a problem with swallowing solid lumps, puree soup in blender. It then becomes a lovely crab bisque!

This recipe can be used with shrimp, clams or a white-meat fish to make cream of shrimp soup or fish or clam chowder.

Gail

Gail,

That sounds delicious. I'll have to try it myself!

Thanks for the recipe, Gail! I don't think I could do it without being pureed but it sounds yummy as a bisque. Nelie

Cindy, this is easy and if Harry can swallow meat at all, the pork is really tender.
1 or 2 slabs good quality BABY Back ribs[Baby backs are a must]
Bottle of really good mild bbq sauce[not too spicey]
Cut slabs into 3 or 4 sections, put in heavy roasting pan, cover with lots of sauce, including some for bottom of pan, cover tightly in foil and bake at 325 for 2 to 2 1\2 hrs. Check once to be sure there is sauce covering all the ribs. You are basically steaming these in sauce.

Does your family like Ham and Bean soup? It's a staple for John. I use the Hurst 15 bean pkg and ham chunks[or cut up a ham steak] if I don't have a ham bone. 1 glove garlic, a cut up onion, and lots of water to make them soupy. This is easy because you can soak the beans over night, throw everything in a big covered pot the next day and let it simmer 2 or more hours. Some people add a can of tomatoes.
I can't wait to try Gail's recipes. Amy

Great recipes!

Andrea

Hi You all should start a cancer cookbook.
Cathy

after all that fine food,,, ice cream.

i got black raspberry and black cherry in the frig now... alternating days works just fine and i didn't have to make a decision at the store.

had some at lunch today.
will i have another bowl tonight?

cu,
larryb

larryb- the next step is piling those flavors over a soft, hot brownie Enjoy. Amy

well its May 2007 now.

today i had some 'Southern Lemon Pie' ice cream. a limited production product by Turkey Hill Co from Lancaster, PA. it was fantastic, creamy lemon with chunks of crust.... but its all gone now.

got to go to the store tomorrow!

cu,
larryb