What are the best snacks for Esophageal Cancer during chemo?

Posted by hope24 @hope24, Dec 5, 2023

Hello everyone. I just joined this group yesterday on behalf of my husband. Stage 3 esophagus cancer. 5 rounds of chemo and 28 sessions of radiation to start next week. What snacks are best tolerated during chemo? It's hard to swallow sometimes and he's worried about nausea. Thanks so much for any tips!

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

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 9 2:39pm

In reply to @treh00jamc "What are your side effects?" + (show)

Welcome, @treh00jamc. I'm tagging @dsh33782 to make sure he sees your post and your question about the side effects of esophageal cancer treatment that he experienced.

@treh00jamc, have you been diagnosed with esophageal cancer? What treatments did you or are you having?

Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Apr 9 4:15pm

In reply to @treh00jamc "What are your side effects?" + (show)

@treh00jamc
Hi, I had lots of side affects from 28 days of chemo and raidation for my esophageal cancer. At first I could only sip water or milkshake, and I was coughing up lots of flem. I was tired all the time, and then there was the diaherria. Next came lack of appetite and the feeding tube after I lost 20 pounds. I learned to take 6 ISOSOURCE cartons per day via feeding tube to maintain weight. I could not have done it without the help of my wife Charlotte. It was wonderful when the treatments were over and I gradually started feeling stronger and more normal. Later scans showed the cancerous tumor was gone and lymph nodes were back to normal.
Don

treh00jamc | @treh00jamc | Apr 9 9:02pm

In reply to @dsh33782 "@treh00jamc Hi, I had lots of side affects from 28 days of chemo and raidation for..." + (show)

Thank you Don for responding. Did you have an esophagectomy?

Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Apr 10 8:35am

In reply to @treh00jamc "Thank you Don for responding. Did you have an esophagectomy?" + (show)

@treh00jamc
No I did not have any surgery. The doc decided that I was not a good candidate at age 79 with high blood pressure. I feel very fortunate that the chemo and radiation worked without surgery.
Don