Eating during cancer care

Hi again. I thought I would mention the one thing that was still missing for me in my use of Turmeric/curcumin and vitamin C while in my treatment. There is no information anywhere on dosing. Since vitamin C is water soluble, it may only stay in your blood for as little as 2 hours from the time you take it. Too deal with this, I was taking Timed-release C, which distributes the release of the C in your gut over a much longer period of time. Second, neither of these has any side effect and vitamin C has been taken up to 10 grams/day. If it does cause diarhea at that point, back off on the dose a couple of grams.
All during Chemotherapy, I was taken 4 to 6 grams of both curcumin and vitamin C staggered throughout the day. The turmeric/curcumin is not what you buy in the grocery store. Rather, it is 95 standardized curcuminoids, which can be bought online or at vitamin stores.. It should have money back garentees and tested by an outside lab for quality. Some of this information is available by googling online.

Does it help with taste? I just finished 6 months of chemo and everything tastes metallic, I really can’t eat anything

I didn't experience any difference in taste. I often brought a lunch with me and would eat during the 3 hour chemotherapy. I should add that my oncologist wanted to give me a steroid at the beginning of each session. I declined this because most steroids are detrimental to the immune system and I didn't see any benefit in taking it.
I believe it helped that I have been taking vitamin supplement a long time and also eating many fruits and vegetables. For me the biggest downside to chemotherapy was the negative effect on blood counts. It helps to take Papaya enzyme and vitamin b 12 as well.

Another thing suggested by studies is that because use of curcumin, the dose of chemotherapy might be reduced while still getting the same result. Less poison(chemotherapy) means your body may stay healthier. I don't know if this has been tried yet. The standard procedure is give the patient the strongest dose they can stand and still stay alive.

I talked to palliative care nurse about curcumin and she said make sure it has black pepper for absorption. I already take turmeric with curcumin for osteoarthritis but not as much as recommended for cancer. I’ve also read about benefits of magnesium for cancer. Anyone else using natural supplements with medical cancer treatment?

A friend mentioned that eating the Pedialyte Freezer Pops helped with her metallic taste.

The nurse is correct , perhaps more than she knows:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-black-pepper#:~:text=When%20you%20add%20black%20pepper,nutrients%20absorbed%20into%20your%20bloodstream.&text=Black%20pepper%20helps%20to%20stimulate,absorb%20the%20foods%20you%20eat.
While I support use of holistics,I must warn that many of them are not water soluable and thus may accumulate in the body and possibly become toxic. Thus knowledge and care must be taken, Having said that here are some you might look at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6464502/#:~:text=Selenium%20acts%20against%20cell%20damage,frequently%20used%20by%20cancer%20patients.
https://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/study-finds-vitamin-e-can-boost-immunotherapy-responses.h00-159538956.html
Vitamin A perhaps needs close monitoring because of posible toxicity:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8465379/
Intravenous Vitamin C is in trials to be used with chemotherapy with the benefits many would like, but it is not approved by the FDA.

I should add that many hospitals are opposed to holistic because of unknown quality, dosing information and need for legal policy. Some won't allow holistic. The same is true of doctors. Many are afraid of losing their licence to practice if they suggest holistics. Currently, I believe it is best for individuals to take more responsibility for their nutrition and health. Information is more available today than ever.

Thanks for the tip. I’ve been eating chocolate pudding but getting tired of that too. Protein drinks, milk, Nestle Quick and protein powder mixed in a blender.
I’ve just started taking vitamin C a couple days ago and was able to eat a Sausage McMuffin this morning with chocolate milk. Doesn’t seem like a big deal but first thing I could eat in I long while. Still couldn’t taste it but baby steps.
McMuffin on the menu tomorrow. Ordered Balance of Nature too, the one one tv, probably a scam, but might as well try it, wasn’t crazy about vegetables even before I was sick.
Everyone, we may be all on deferent types and doses of chemo and are bodies are all different so do what works for you. Chemo gets progressively worse, at least it did for me. Lucky for me it was the taste.

The changes in appeal of foods is striking. I used to cook chicken all the time, now chicken has no appeal. I do eat it. Beef has been much more appealing. I used to eat chocolate like it was one of the four basic food groups, suddenly no appeal at all. I have pancreatic cancer and I found that when I started with pancreatic enzymes (Creon), my appetite improved and I started enjoying food again. Such as blessing. It was hard to "force feed" myself. I am much more active these days and my weight has dropped some so I will need to work on increasing my calories. I am trying to add in MCT oil to boost my calories. It is absorbed without pancreatic enzymes. I was lucky to have a dietician who specializes in patients with hepatobiliary disorders, mostly pancreatic cancers. I am seen at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and they seemed to have all sorts of dieticians for different types of cancers.

Glad you feeling better,
I’m also a big fan of the four food groups, cows, chickens and pigs! With potatoes and chocolate on the side.
Hopefully I get my taste buds back soon. It’s been about 4 weeks since my last chemo. So fingers crossed.
My NET cancer started in my Pancreas and spread to my liver. Had no symptoms really, looking back I was tired and somehow off a little in 2021 but I just thought it was getting older, 63, and overweight.
Had a MRI after hernia surgery in April of last year and life changed dramatically after that.
Are you going to receive Chemo or have your already? My pancreas tumor shrank considerably after chemo, the liver ones too, I have dozens so buying time is all I got.
If you have to do chemo it stinks but if they can cut the tumor out after you may be better off in the long run.

I am advised the cancer is "borderline resectable" due to involvement of the cancer around the blood vessels. This may become operable with chemo. If not operable, radiation can be given. I have had six cycles of chemo with favorable CA 19-9, but will not have reevaluation of the blood vessels until after the 8th cycle of FOLFOX. I feel well, pretty normal energy by about 5 days before another treatment. Not too bad after the treatment, but energy is not normal for me. I am grateful for the many small blessings I can find in my day. I am trying to address the practical matters so my survivors will not have too much to deal with. I find it is necessary to let go of the future as far as plans and just think in terms of the treatment and doctor's appointments which are scheduled. I have found the stories that people tell about their lives and treatments are very helpful so I thank you for sharing your story