Mom diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Need advice on helping her to eat

Posted by Karyn @kj9, Jun 10, 2020

Hi, I'm pretty new to this group but I've seen the support and help you all give each other and I think it's great. I"m writing today because my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. We are being seen by an oncologist and receiving treatment. Where my sister and I need help is with getting her to eat. to make a long story short, my mother was doing okay until recently when the docs found an arrhythmia and prescribed a blood thinner. Well my mother ate her self up with worry about taking the medicine. She worried so much and she lost a lot of weight. Having lung cancer and losing weight is not a good combination and my problem now is she only eats about 700-900 calories a day. Not enough to gain any weight and certainly not enough sustain yourself. She has always been a petite person but now she is so thin, my sister and are afraid. She doesn't have enough energy to do anything, she's constantly so tired. we try to tell her it's because of lack of nutrition. My sister and I are trying everything to get her to eat enough food in a day. My question is, has anyone experienced this? or have loved one who has gone through this? do you have any suggestions on how to get them eat? open their appetites? what kinds of food might work? I appreciate any thoughts and ideas. My sister and I are at out of our minds with worry. Thank you in advance for your support.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

@kj9- Checking in to see how you and your sister are doing. You are in my thoughts.

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Hi Karyn, I see that you haven't posted in awhile. I just got on this thread and I'm wondering how your mother's appetite is currently. I didn't see a recommendation to consult with a nutritionist and I'm wondering if that might help. I am a cancer survivor (endometrial cancer) and I consulted with a nutritionist at Mayo who specializes in working with this population. Now this was for me and I found the information helpful and the support from the nutritionist immeasurable. I understand how difficult it is to take care of your mother and try to encourage her to eat. My mother was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and lung cancer in 1997. (She died later that year). I lived across the country and visited her whenever I could. Medical care has changed so much since 1997 and it never occurred to me to ask for a nutrition consult at that time for my mother. You and your sister are very caring daughters and I just know that your mother appreciates all that you do for her even if she doesn't tell you that every day. Blessings to you, your mother, and your family.

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@naturegirl5

Hi Karyn, I see that you haven't posted in awhile. I just got on this thread and I'm wondering how your mother's appetite is currently. I didn't see a recommendation to consult with a nutritionist and I'm wondering if that might help. I am a cancer survivor (endometrial cancer) and I consulted with a nutritionist at Mayo who specializes in working with this population. Now this was for me and I found the information helpful and the support from the nutritionist immeasurable. I understand how difficult it is to take care of your mother and try to encourage her to eat. My mother was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and lung cancer in 1997. (She died later that year). I lived across the country and visited her whenever I could. Medical care has changed so much since 1997 and it never occurred to me to ask for a nutrition consult at that time for my mother. You and your sister are very caring daughters and I just know that your mother appreciates all that you do for her even if she doesn't tell you that every day. Blessings to you, your mother, and your family.

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@naturegirl5- Unfortunately, Karyn's mom passed away on July 10th.

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@merpreb

@naturegirl5- Unfortunately, Karyn's mom passed away on July 10th.

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@merry. I'm so sorry to hear this. Karyn, may your mother's memory be a blessing.

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