#40068 06-04-2006 02:17 PM | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 69 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 69 | Hey,
From reading the previous post about stoppin radiation, a lot of the posts talked about losing weight and becoming weak...
..is there anything that can be done to kind of keep from becoming weak? or before going into radiation should there be a change or diet or vietamins?
thanks
H
the world brought me to my knees...
Update: Feb 10/08: Mom passed away on Jan 31,08 - infection (unknown) in her lungs with her weakened immune system resulted in cardiac arrest - T2NO SCC of tongue surgery 6/30/06, SCC left neck and lungs detected Sept 07, 7 weeks rad/3 rounds chemo had no effect.
| | |
#40069 06-04-2006 04:34 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | Her Son, before I began rad/chemo, I ate like a linebacker, and gained as much weight as I could. This was a silver lining to the treatment cloud as I enjoyed cheesecake with no guilt. Also, for the first two weeks of treatment, I kept eating as much as I could while my taste still worked and before the mouth sores appeared. As I ended up losing all that and more by the end, I am glad I did that. I did not experience weakness, as much as fatigue toward the end of tx. Take your mom out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! | | |
#40070 06-05-2006 06:15 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Bulk up if you can and check with your doctor. I don't think you are supposed to be taking any vitamins until after your are through radiation and they think you are cancer free.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | |
#40071 06-05-2006 06:40 AM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 | Try to gain weight before treatment -- my husband's medical oncologist (MO) told him (at our first consult) "you are the perfect weight for your heighjt, but you will lose 20 pounds so my prescription for you is to gain weight in these next 3 weeks." Which he did, and he did lose 20 pounds (although half of that was actually right at end of treatment from two infections, a blood infection and a pneumonia, both of which ended him up in hospital. Maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration through radiation is difficult, be sure to consult with a hospital nutritionist experienced with cancer patients NOW and get advice on both. Will you be getting a PEG (gastric tube)?
As for supplements -- the only one which seems related to maintaining or regaining weight during cancer treatment is fish oil, there are several published studies and a number of on-going trials. Results have been promising, esp. in patitents with advanced cancer-related weight loss. Dosage in the trials varies, about 2000 mg a day fish oil seems common (about 2 capsules). The big capsules can be hard to swallow, there are other preparations available.
As for supplements, my husband's MO wanted him to stop taking any antioxidants (esp. vitamins E & C) during treatment, starting them again about 2 weeks after last radiation. She wanted him to continue taking 200 mg selenium/day as this element is a needed component of the immune system, has been related to better outcomes in HNC treatment, and we live in a low-selenium area (that is, are not apt to get enough from food/water).
However, as I have always said, do not take any supplements without clearing with your doctors. You could google "fish oil and cancer weight gain" and "selenium and cancer" to get some of the published studies.
Gail
CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!
| | |
#40072 06-05-2006 06:18 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | I forgot about milkshakes. Mega calories, easy to get down, and easy to make at home. Start with a container of the most high fat ice cream and go from there. That will surely pack on pounds! | | |
#40073 06-21-2006 08:27 AM | Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 15 Member | | Member
Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 15 | I had surgery 6 months ago and was told I would probally not need radiation. I have now had a very small recurrance and now they are talking radiation. Is a peg tube necessary? I had mine pulled 6 months ago. what can I expect during radiation? Is it painful? How long is typical treatment for a small area of cancer in situ? | | |
#40074 06-21-2006 03:15 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | AnnK, most people experience some difficulty during radiation. I, for one, would definitely recommend you get a peg. Perhaps you won't need to use it, but it's like having good brakes on your car- they are there if you need them. Were you unhappy with the peg during your 1st recovery? I don't mean this last part in a scary or mean way, but to me, there is no such thing as a "small recurrance" of cancer. Best wishes. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
:
| | |
#40075 06-21-2006 04:34 PM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | AnnK, most people find radition difficult although HOW difficult varies quite a bit with the person. One thing that can make it more difficult is not getting adequate hydration or nutrition during the radiation and one thing that can protect against that somehwat is getting a PEG. As Amy said, you may never have to use it, and I hope you don't, but if you do you have it there. I also would recommend you get one.
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
| | |
#40076 06-22-2006 02:01 AM | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 69 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 69 | Hey,
Not to sound dumb or anything, but what is a peg?
the world brought me to my knees...
Update: Feb 10/08: Mom passed away on Jan 31,08 - infection (unknown) in her lungs with her weakened immune system resulted in cardiac arrest - T2NO SCC of tongue surgery 6/30/06, SCC left neck and lungs detected Sept 07, 7 weeks rad/3 rounds chemo had no effect.
| | |
#40077 06-22-2006 01:43 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | | | |
| Forums23 Topics18,248 Posts197,136 Members13,320 | | Most Online1,788
Jan 23rd, 2025 | | |
|
