Hello again! I just replied to your earlier post seeking info on pancan. Take a look at that, please, and if you're comfortable with it, please provide some more info so we can help you more effectively.

OK, diet. I sound like a broken record, but this too is dependent on so many factors. Here are some general thoughts:

Pancreatic cancer is called a "wasting disease." That is, patients often lose their appetite and/or are unable to pull all the nutrients and calories out of food, so they lose weight, sometimes rapidly. So obviously, nutrition and diet are really important. However, the chemo regimen (I assume the patient is doing chemo?) can be brutal on appetite, and sometimes it can cause mouth sores, nausea, diarrhea and general malaise, so sometimes you just don't want to eat anything. In my case, when I was first diagnosed, I played to what sounded good and didn't worry about a super-balanced diet. I decided calories were more important. So if sweets sounded good, I ate sweets. Baked potatoes? Yes, please. Etc. I went on food jags, eating the same things for days or weeks in a row. I also drove my spouse nuts by catering to a sudden food whim. Some patients turn to protein shakes and soft foods. Some crave meat, probably to counter anemia. And so on. Note that it makes a difference whether the patient has had the Whipple procedure, which causes diabetes. I haven't had that surgery. Finally, hydration is hugely important. I am finally able to drink lots of water, which I did before diagnosis, but it was tough at first. Some folks find sports drinks (Gatorade, Pedialyte) can help.

There are a lot of people who are adamant that cancer patients must be scrupulous about their diets. Some work very hard to avoid certain foods and/or focus solely on certain foods. I am sure people will post about this, and I'm also sure you can tell my stance from what I wrote above. Everyone has to do it the way that suits them. For individualized help with nutrition and diet, you might want to consult with a dietitian who's trained to work with oncology patients.

Does any of that help? Please post more details about your situation so we know what additional assistance to provide.

I would add that as you are determining who will provide your health care, be sure they have a dietician on staff. At my physician’s office, that is the first person that sees me.

I was fortunate to have access to a hepatobiliary dietician who helped me tremendously with getting the Creon dose I needed to save my life. Make sure that pancreatic insufficiency is diagnosed if present. I initially lost 25 lb before the pancreatic insufficiency was diagnosed. It resulted in muscle weakness, I am still trying to regain.

Some helpful links on Diet and Nutrition-

DIGITAL COOKBOOK FROM National Pancreas Foundation

PANCREATIC CANCER EUROPE.EU WEBSITE
https://pancreaticcancereurope.eu

Consult with a Registered Dietitian. Look for one with the credential of CSO (Certification Specialist Oncology). They are part of the care team and found in a pancreas and hepatobiliary/GI Cancers department. The CSO designation signifies that have 2000 hours of specialized training and familiar with the needs and requirements of GI cancer patients. They can assess an individual’s needs and specific requirements. I never needed an appointment nor was I charged a fee for their beneficial services.