The rules going forward are different now... this is how I counsel others. The ability to eat and drink and even swallow, can swing wildly during the EC journey. Then add in nausea, internal cramping everywhere, treatment side effects, as well as side effects from all the meds we get... to help us with pain and our treatments... so the ability to take in calories and stay hydrated becomes iffy.

So I advise others that this is not the time to think about so-called healthy eating... going on a "cancer diet ". Why? Because that ship already sailed... YOU HAVE CANCER!

So now the main objective is to stay strong enough to survive ALL that is coming. And staying strong is French for NOT dropping weight!! And dropping weight happens for various reasons. Many of us have a big ol tumor in our esophagus... and we cannot swallow! This was me, could not swallow even a tiny sip of water as my CROSS protocol treatments were just starting (they had already given me a J tube). And then, as treatments get underway, taste buds head south, and desire to eat can drop dramatically. So... many things steer our bodies towards big weight loss... not a good thing.

So... what to focus on? Understand the ability to swallow. If this is in serious jeopardy... a feeding tube should be installed (and NOT a stent... I have my reasons for not taking the cheap and quick way out, especially in the neoadjuvant setting). Second... if swallowing is still passable, then take in calories... fatten up! I don't care if it's potato chips, mashed potatoes with tons of butter and gravy, ice cream, candy... I don't care. We need calories, because more weight loss is on the way. All that matters now is staying hydrated and big calorie intake... regardless if how one gets this done. So... what to eat and drink? Whatever the hell works! The only criteria are getting it down... and keeping it down. Sometimes we're nauseous and we can vomit a bit. Ok... comes with the territory ... don't sweat it. During treatments there will be off days, days in bed... but there will be good days in the cycle as well... so pack it in when you can... take extra hydration when at the infusion center... ask for it!

Remember... eating is no longer a pleasurable activity... been there done that. And it could be a year before this returns... but, it will return! For now... we're in survival mode, doing what we can to give us the best chance all along our miserable EC journeys. Do what works for ya... no rules. Cram in the calories... and they have many high protein high calorie drinks. Find one you like... augment it with some vanilla ice cream and root beer if you like (I did this with my Ensure Plus 350 cal drinks). Those root beer freezes tasted pretty good.

Gary