I have not contacted the ACS, my sister-in-law had given me the phone number a couple of weeks ago but I just haven't made time. So far the nutritionist has her goal of 1300-1500 calories and 32oz of water. Even at these levels, she is feeling full. When we use the PEG, she was getting about 1400 calories but since she was feeling full, she has been getting very little else. I can maybe get her to eat a pudding cup or drink a shake in a day. With her PEG infection, today she needed to drink/eat "normally" and I think we ended up with 3 Ensures and a shake for about 1200 calories. I did go out and find a higher calorie Ensure+ at 350 calories and will probably mail order some of the Carnation VHC if I can't get through our medical supply house.

I wonder if by giving the Cisplatin as an inpatient treatment helps on some of the side effects that are experienced as out patient. I know they mentioned 3 or 4 different anti-nausea drugs that they would use there and send home.

I know she already has a dry mouth before starting treatment, is the "magic mouthwash" biotene and does the Biotene mouth spray work well?

Thanks,

If you are getting the food through a medical supply house, ask about Neutren 2.0 which is good for PEG and has 500 cal/can. My supply house said VHC wasn't covered, apparently because it isn't 'PEG'able'.

BTW, Safeway carries a drink like Ensure (made by same company) in 350 cal/can, usually for less than Ensure.

Tom

Is your nutritionist familiar with cancer patients? I hate to ask since Im not a medical professional. Getting 1300-1500 calories and 32oz of water per day will probably eventually land your wife in the hospital. Its no way near enough to fight cancer. With losing weight a big concern those levels are too low. She needs 2000-3000 calories with 3000+ optimal. Lower than that or at levels like the nutritionist is telling you isnt enough to sustain he body when it has been compromised. The water intake also needs to be minimum 48 oz. If your wife feels full, do more frequent, smaller doses. She wont feel very well if the nutrition and hydration amounts arent raised, and she will have a much more difficult time than is necessary. Everybody is different, but this is something pretty regular that any oral cancer patient needs. There are alot of higher calorie liquid formulas available by prescription. I used 2cal. Please talk to her doctor about this.