General Questions for my dad re Pancreatic Cancer

I can't speak to the constipation or the pain, but re the nausea, has your dad been prescribed anti-nausea medications? I see that chemo hasn't started yet, and when it does, he should receive anti-nausea meds via IV or port prior to the chemo meds. However, there are oral medications he can take, such as Zofran (ondansetron) or Compazine (prochlorperazine). An MD would have to prescribe these.

I know exactly how that feels. Check with dr for anti nausea medication like zofran. If the constipation medicine is too rough, try a half dose.

Nausea is such a horrible thing. I'm finding that I get relief
From nausea from the chemo by drinking at least 60 oz. Of water with lemon. Bottled lemon juice is ok. Also, peppermint or wintergreen lifesavers..
I seem to have them continually during chemo week. Ginger is terrific..you can make a ginger tea with fresh ginger. Peel the ginger, slice and boil in water, then reduce heat for about 10 min. Add honey. Ginger chews are also good. I have found that eating mashed potatoes keeps the nausea at bay too.
All of this I have on top of taking compazine and they seem to boost the effectiveness of the compazine. I have also found that a hot pack or heating pad on my abdomen helps some.
Hoping you will be talking to your doctor very soon. My best wishes for a speedy and lasting recovery.

I thank all who have responded I really appreciate it as also my dad. As I stated we are living in the Caribbean Healthcare is not the best.
Another follow up question.
He finds it hard to digest like chicken and other things. Can anyone guide as to what are preferable food to eat and digestible. He also is not losing much weight but it very thin. Is there anything that can help to increase his weight???? Thank you all again. Love you all

Protein is very important. Eggs, black beans, fish, yogurt are all options if chicken and Turkey do not digest well. Mashed potato’s, sweet potatos mashed and soft carrots would be helpful too. Small meals several times each day will be easier to digest. Raw vegetables or any thing with skins will be harder to digest. If his constipation persists, Miralax each day will help. Some nausea medicines do cause constipation so while using them drink plenty of water! There is a great virtual seminar on the 16th by a dietician focused on pancreatic cancer. I will try and share the link tomorrow

Hello.

1. Constipation:
....... ****Some laxatives are too harsh for a person with pancreatic cancer.**** I take Colace 100mg twice a day (morning and night) because the pain meds I'm on (I had surgery about 5 weeks ago) are constipating. The generic name is docusate sodium; this is an over-the-counter remedy, and some pharmacy chains sell their own version for less than Colace. (Be sure to look for Colace, not Peri-Colace -- or to look for docusate sodium on its own, without additives. Docusate sodium is a stool softener only; the additives prompt movement in the digestive tract, which can be too much for a person with pancan.)
....... (Constipation wasn't a problem for me until I had my surgery. While I was in the hospital, I was given Miralax once a day -- again, the idea is that someone with pancan needs something gentle. Many retailers, such as Target or a big supermarket chain, sell their own version of Miralax at a lower price. The chemical name is polyethylene glycol; if you use that as your search term, you'll find the retailer's own version, if they make one.)
....... Dehydration contributes to constipation; I know it's hard to drink lots of fluid when one is nauseated or feeling ill in other ways, but please remind your father to try to get at least 40 ounces (about 1.25 liters) every day -- preferably 60 ounces (almost 2 liters).

2. Protein:
....... Protein shakes can be a good way to get protein. Orgain makes a powder you can mix with fluids, and I've bought it at Target, which will ship to my apartment; big drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens ship items too, though I don't know whether they sell Orgain (and I don't know which retail options you have in the Caribbean). I recommend Orgain, or any brand that is organic or "clean"-ish, because all of the lab chemicals in our food / drink are bad for us.
....... I get protein from chicken (I know that isn't working for your father), scrambled eggs, dairy milk, dairy cheese, soy milk, protein shakes, tofu, and dairy yogurt.
....... This link will give you some info about diet and nutrition, and the website itself (pancan.org) is very useful -- plus I think you can email someone there for additional help. (The org has a toll-free number, but I don't know whether that would be toll-free for your location.)
https://pancan.org/facing-pancreatic-cancer/living-with-pancreatic-cancer/diet-and-nutrition/
...... The dietician at the cancer center where I'm treated suggested adding powdered milk to anything whose taste won't be altered by it (ex.: mashed potatoes, yogurt, protein shakes) -- it will add some protein.

3. Nausea:
....... The dietician told me, before I started chemo, to eat 2 or 3 bites of something bland as soon as I woke up (white bread, saltines, etc.). I ate literally as soon as I woke up -- I kept saltines on my bedside table, and also a sealed container with a partial piece of bread. It helped.
....... She also said that keeping a little food in one's stomach throughout the day would help.
....... I get some relief from sucking on wintergreen-flavored Lifesavers, or from eating a tiny piece of candied ginger.

Best wishes to your father and to you; this is a tough thing to go through.

Nut butters like peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, Nutella are high in calories. Digestive enzymes (amylase for starches, trypsin for protein and lipase for fats) are also deficient in many pancreatic cancer patients. The prescription products are expensive but papaya contains digestive enzymes. For constipation, Miralax is polyethylene glycol 3350 is good if taken daily. Constipation could contribute to nausea. The products have different names in some countries. I found Compazine effective. The generic name is prochlorperazine in the US but might have a different name in the Carribean. Your pharmacist is likely to be able to help you with what kind of products are available where you are. Thank you for sharing your story.

Thank you

Thank you so much. Awaiting the link. Blessings

Hello. I thought of something we didn't address, plus one PS about nausea, one about protein, and one about sleeping.

1. Please make sure that your father's doctors know about all of the medications he's taking, including the OTC (over the counter) ones. Some people with pancreatic cancer also develop problems with their liver, and many OTC medicines, vitamins, and supplements are hard on the liver.
. . . . . For ex., I can't take Tylenol (generic name acetaminophen) because my liver functions are high. And, my oncologist doesn't want me to take much ibuprofen (Advil, etc.), either; I didn't yet ask for a recommendation of some OTC pain reliever, and if I get one, I'll share it -- but it might not be OK for your father, so please make sure his doctors know about everything he's taking.

2. I don't know of any OTC medicines for nausea, unfortunately. My Rx for nausea are ondansetron (generic Zofran), which others have mentioned, and promethazine (generic Phenergan). Some people have been prescribed olanzapine for nausea; I don't know anything about it.

3. I used to eat a lot of beans/legumes, and if your father likes them, perhaps stick with the ones that have the mildest flavor, such as navy beans (small white beans -- you might have a different variety, with a different name) and red lentils (much milder than brown or green).
. . . . . There's a channel on YouTube, called Recetas de Gri, that shares a lot of recipes with beans, including meat substitutes, crackers, cake, and bread. The recipes are for very rustic food that's easy to make and that doesn't require lots of ingredients or take lots of time.

4. You mentioned that your father is having trouble sleeping because of a sticking feeling in his side. I'm so sorry -- I don't know what that means, so this might not help, but just in case: I take 1mg of melatonin at bedtime, to help me fall asleep. I also take a small dose of an OTC antihistamine (chlorpheniramine) when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep. ***But please check with his doctors to find out whether it's OK for him to take either or both of these.****

Good luck.