Hi there and thanks for posting

I am sorry to hear about your husband's situation, this must be a difficult time for you both - with so much to process.

Unfortunately prognosis will vary from patient to patient and isn't just about the type or stage of a cancer. It is also based on how fast growing the cancer is and where it has spread to alongside the person's general health and fitness levels.

No one here can give a time frame for him if the chemotherapy doesn't work for him, this is something to ask the specialist doctor involved about.

For now I think it is important to focus on the treatment and give that a chance to treat this cancer and go from there. If it doesn't respond well there may be other treatment options to try so do ask about these too.

Often doctors can only give a prognosis once all the treatment options have been exhausted and there is little more that can be done.

I am sorry we can't be of more help on this occasion but do get back if you have more questions. The helpline is also open weekdays 9-5 on 0808 800 4040 if you ever want to talk over the phone.

Wishing you both all the best,

Naomi

1. Thank you.  I am struggling to get my husband to eat much.   What can I do to help?  He has Aymes shakes up to 3 a day but is eating very little of anything else. His chemo starts on the 13th January 

Hello Lrosek

Our nurse team are now out of the office until next week, but in the meantime, we have some information, advice and tips for managing diet problems in cancer on our website. 

Hopefully this will give you some ideas for how to help increase his calorie intake and our nurse team will reply when they're back in the office. 

Best wishes 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator 

Hello Lrosek and thanks for getting back to us again,

I can understand that it is worrying to see your husband not eating, but as long as he is drinking the Aymes shakes, and he tries to drink extra fluid that is the important thing. If your husband does feel like eating try and encourage high protein foods such as eggs, full fat yogurts or fish which can be easily digested. Homemade ice lollies can be refreshing and mean that your husband is getting extra fluid.

You may find it helpful to contact the Cancer Dietitians at the World Cancer Research Fund. They have a helpline that you can contact and they may have tips on further supplements or foods that your husband can take if they feel that it is necessary.

Hopefully once your husband starts his chemotherapy then he may find his appetite improves. Do let the hospital know that he is struggling to eat. The doctors need to make sure that he is drinking enough fluid to help flush the chemotherapy through. I am sure that the doctors will be monitoring his bloods to make sure that his kidneys and liver are working well.

I do hope that the chemotherapy all goes well. Encourage your husband to report any side effects so that they can hopefully be well controlled. If the hospital has a Maggies

nearby you may like to see what help they can offer. They often run courses on food and diet problems as well as numerous other support and guidance help. They also run on line courses which you can both join.

Do give the nurses a ring if you want to talk any of this through.

The number to ring is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

All the best,

Catherine