1. < Lung Cancer

How to support immunity when vitamins aren’t allowed?

Posted by harrybanian007 @harrybanian007, 5 days ago

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate your advice.
It’s been about a year since my mom finished her lung cancer treatment. She’s doing okay, but she doesn’t eat much protein and her diet is pretty limited. Her doctor isn’t allowing any additional vitamins right now, and the only thing she’s taking is a low dose of vitamin D3.

If you’ve been in a similar situation where the doctor didn’t recommend supplements, how did you support your loved one’s immunity and overall health through diet or other safe ways?

Thanks so much for any advice or shared experiences 💙🙏

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

espiritu56 | @espiritu56 | 4 days ago

I use the Orgain Plant Protein shakes. They have 20 grams of protein. I get mine at Costco. There’s also Ensure protein drinks.
I have read a recommendation is to eat several small portion meals a day rather than 3 bigger ones. Plant based and small portions of lean protein.

REPLY
1 reply
pml | @pml | 4 days ago

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear of your mom's lung cancer. That's so hard to deal with.

My husband had stage 4 lung cancer but he lived with it for 14 years before he died last July at age 83. What really helped him was eating good quality red meat and lots of iron packed foods such as beans, fish, and of course, the red meat. I know it's not the in thing to eat red meat today but it is good for you and our bodies need it for strength. Do a search on Google to find other foods high in iron. Read labels and stay away from pre-prepared foods. They have a lot of preservatives and other junk that your mom doesn't need. If possible, make things from scratch such as homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, cookies etc.

Also my husband reacted badly to chemotherapy and Keytruda treatments so he refused any of them. In a way, that seemed to help my husband a lot. The doctor wasn't happy about my husband refusing treatments but I think that was because those treatments cost $25,000 per infusion.

What really helped my husband the most was that we prayed a lot. God is there for you. Just ask him to help your mom and he will. He made your mom and he can fix her.
I will say a prayer for your mom also.
PML

REPLY
2 replies
vking | @vking | 3 days ago
In reply to @pml "Hi, I'm sorry to hear of your mom's lung cancer. That's so hard to deal with...." + (show)
@pml

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear of your mom's lung cancer. That's so hard to deal with.

My husband had stage 4 lung cancer but he lived with it for 14 years before he died last July at age 83. What really helped him was eating good quality red meat and lots of iron packed foods such as beans, fish, and of course, the red meat. I know it's not the in thing to eat red meat today but it is good for you and our bodies need it for strength. Do a search on Google to find other foods high in iron. Read labels and stay away from pre-prepared foods. They have a lot of preservatives and other junk that your mom doesn't need. If possible, make things from scratch such as homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, cookies etc.

Also my husband reacted badly to chemotherapy and Keytruda treatments so he refused any of them. In a way, that seemed to help my husband a lot. The doctor wasn't happy about my husband refusing treatments but I think that was because those treatments cost $25,000 per infusion.

What really helped my husband the most was that we prayed a lot. God is there for you. Just ask him to help your mom and he will. He made your mom and he can fix her.
I will say a prayer for your mom also.
PML

Jump to this post

My nutritionist recommended a product from Fair Life called Core Power. It is a drink - comes in 26 gram and 42 gram sizes. I find the 42 gram tastes better. Comes in vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. I prefer the vanilla. Most grocery stores carry it. Also, Amazon sells it in 12 bottle cartons.

REPLY
snuzq1 | @snuzq1 | 3 days ago
In reply to @espiritu56 "I use the Orgain Plant Protein shakes. They have 20 grams of protein. I get mine..." + (show)
@espiritu56

I use the Orgain Plant Protein shakes. They have 20 grams of protein. I get mine at Costco. There’s also Ensure protein drinks.
I have read a recommendation is to eat several small portion meals a day rather than 3 bigger ones. Plant based and small portions of lean protein.

Jump to this post

My oncologist recommends the same thing

REPLY
snuzq1 | @snuzq1 | 3 days ago
In reply to @pml "Hi, I'm sorry to hear of your mom's lung cancer. That's so hard to deal with...." + (show)
@pml

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear of your mom's lung cancer. That's so hard to deal with.

My husband had stage 4 lung cancer but he lived with it for 14 years before he died last July at age 83. What really helped him was eating good quality red meat and lots of iron packed foods such as beans, fish, and of course, the red meat. I know it's not the in thing to eat red meat today but it is good for you and our bodies need it for strength. Do a search on Google to find other foods high in iron. Read labels and stay away from pre-prepared foods. They have a lot of preservatives and other junk that your mom doesn't need. If possible, make things from scratch such as homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, cookies etc.

Also my husband reacted badly to chemotherapy and Keytruda treatments so he refused any of them. In a way, that seemed to help my husband a lot. The doctor wasn't happy about my husband refusing treatments but I think that was because those treatments cost $25,000 per infusion.

What really helped my husband the most was that we prayed a lot. God is there for you. Just ask him to help your mom and he will. He made your mom and he can fix her.
I will say a prayer for your mom also.
PML

Jump to this post

So thankful I live and treated in canada I have no money coming out of my pocket and I even get free housecleaning once a month. Just sharing as this makes me realize how fortunate I am

REPLY
1 reply
pml | @pml | 3 days ago
In reply to @snuzq1 "So thankful I live and treated in canada I have no money coming out of my..." + (show)
@snuzq1

So thankful I live and treated in canada I have no money coming out of my pocket and I even get free housecleaning once a month. Just sharing as this makes me realize how fortunate I am

Jump to this post

Hi,
That's really a nice program that you have in Canada! I get free health insurance and prescriptions but I have to clean my own house! You really are fortunate. I'm glad for you!
PML

REPLY
snuzq1 | @snuzq1 | 2 days ago

Well that's nice you have the same as us. I didn't know about the house cleaning until I join the lung association maybe check the usa lung association they might have something similar. May i ask ur health insurance is it through a company u work for or is it something through the government like ours?

REPLY
denzie | @denzie | 2 days ago

Protein is essential to build both red and white corpuscles. The protein shakes others mentioned are great.

Talk to an oncology nutritionist to learn how much protein you need daily based on gender and weight.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.