Eating during cancer care

My adult son was treated for Stage 3 Thyroid Cancer with Radiation and Chemo almost 4 years ago and still cannot eat food, only drinks Boost and Instant Breakfast. His taste buds were destroyed and he says that food feels like mush in his mouth and it makes him sick. He lives alone and I am so concerned about his health outlook, yet anything that I offer to fix for him he says no and I have bought him several items but he says that he just can't eat. He talks about how good food smells and how he wishes that he could eat. Do you have ANY suggestions that I might try. Blessings to all who are having to suffer with the side effects of cancer treatment. BAZ 10

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Thank you for the information on eating. I’ve been struggling with food not sounding or tasting good and then started chemo last week and was nauseous last two days. Mayo Palliative Care nurse also said, let’s worry about getting high quality food down right now. We’ll worry about variety and balance when you feel better. I needed that pep talk as I’ve been a good balanced diet eater for years and realize that cancer, especially treatment, changed the rules. Right now I’ll do the best I can.

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@grandpabob Thank you for starting this conversation! Like many others, having a loss of taste and related senses can be so danged frustrating. As if we don't already have enough going on, we cannot see to find something appealing to us. And heavens forbid if things we smell might make us nauseous on top of it all, right?

Like others have mentioned, finding something to eat, regardless if it is "healthy" or "right" is what I can try for. My husband is not really on any restrictions. So, sometimes I want a little 1/2" piece of cheese, or something a bit spicy, or a piece of chocolate. Bread often goes bad for me, because I might want a slice, but then that's it. Maybe half a hard-boiled egg, with pepper on it. I do try to get protein powder into me to keep up my strength, and will fix a smoothie with greek yogurt, berries, almond milk, and flavored protein powder. I found a brand of greek yogurt called Zoi that is very creamy and has a great taste. They make several different flavors including orange cream and honey! I do need to temper my food based on kidney disease guidelines, so it is a constant challenge.
Ginger

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Not sure what to add, but I’ve lost 90 pounds in the last 6 months on chemotherapy. Likely I was a fat guy! I have neuroendocrine Tumors ,NET, that started in my pancreas and spread to my liver.
I can’t eat anything, everything tastes metallic and no taste at all. I’m off of it now for about 3 weeks but no improvement with my taste and the neuropathy has never been this bad. My feet are killing me and I can’t feel the end of my finger tips.
Doctor had me talk to a Nutritionists who really didn’t have much to offer, eat more, no kidding. But, she did say that over 20% of people on chemo die of malnutrition not the cancer.

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Hi Baz10, I can’t imagine living on Boost and instant breakfast for all those years. My heart goes out to your son…and you for the continuous worry!
Is your son able to swallow well or is this simply because he doesn’t like the consistency of the food? He could try making baby food. For a while I had horrible mouth sores. Chewing was impossible. We have a small Bullet food processor and my husband would take what he made for dinner and purée mine. At least that provided me with some well balanced meals without having to chew. Some things, of course didn’t taste very good whipped together so, bless his heart, he’d make me several pretty glasses of dinner! 😅

Not having taste buds really does mess with the mouth feel. Unless someone has gone through it themselves it’s almost impossible to describe. I used to love cheese, or cheese sticks. Going through chemo, I could no longer taste it and the cheese felt like I was sucking on a stick of butter. It was horrid. Food does feel like mush. Mashed potatoes that are ‘mush’ anyway, were the worst! You wouldn’t think that would be so offensive but it was.

Sometimes there are tricks we can do to distract ourselves while eating. My husband would tell me stories or we’d watch movies, play games that were mentally stimulating, etc… I’d keep occupied while mindlessly trying to eat. Deep breathing helped to quell the gagging reflex while eating.

Has your son tried any baby foods? There are so many different kinds now, not just Gerber! Even the dessert, if you could entice him to try that, has some nutrition, low sugar but fiber at least. If he would start with a purée and sees that it goes down ok, maybe he’d consider other foods later?
Also, another consideration if he is physically able to eat but just won’t, would be a nutritional therapist or even a psychologist to help him work through any issues he has with not eating.
What do his doctors say about his lack of solids and balanced diet?

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He just won't eat. Has tried a few times to eat a burger or piece of pizza but throws it out. As for what the doctors say, he doesn't tell us much of anything about appointments, if any with doctors and his "regular" is a Physician assistant that doesn't have a very good reputation and I don't believe he has seen her in probably 3 years! He is single and lives alone, sleeps most all day doesn't want anyone to visit. He applied, on his own for SSD and was denied and refuses to hire an attorney to file for him. Our hands are tied because he is an adult, 50+ years old. He is our only "child."
Thank you for sharing and caring. I will try to talk to him about what you have shared. A hug to you.
baz10

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Bob, Alumni Mentor @grandpabob thank you for your healthy tips or eating. Eating I don't have problem. But lack of eating is sign to watch for; my mom, several of her sibling, brother-in-law, neighbor, best friend husband died of Cancer Cachexia (didn't know the name until my hematologist told me watch for signs and symptoms)
AGAIN: Thank you for sharing this information. My sister was diagnosed with MS, then she was diagnosed with cancer (we pushed MS side and thought it was misdiagnosis of the cancer. After researching this, watching Youtube videos and reading; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350269
My sister for 20 years; one eye (black spot) see around it or blurry vision; can't see for ours, days
Temporary paralysis; she broke her leg walking, going for walk, her one leg (stopped working) fell
Couldn't dress herself, husband had to dress her (her hands stopped working) but she could do it the next day
She went to store, couldn't physically open door, store called her husband and family came and got my sister
Many times my sister was cleaning house , her body stopped, fell on floor and had to wait for husband to come home, laying there for hours and couldn't move. She tried to pick up things and couldn't if her life depended on it. I thought "I'm not as bad as my sister" but reading MS; I am showing signs but blaming it on cancer
This Mayo Clinic Health Letter is what I needed and will share this with my sister, who struggled with MS for years. It's something to think about THANK YOU BOB

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