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What to food to offer when there is no appetite and change in taste

DoraJen
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Hi,

My dad is currently going through chemo for prostate cancer. He had 2 rounds successfully but after round 3 picked up an infection. He was admitted to hospital treated and released but has since been back in again for a small blood clot in his lung. My question is related to his food. He has zero appetite and says things taste disgusting or of nothing when he eats. He is having maybe 3 mouthfuls of a meal at lunchtime, some porridge in the morning and maybe a banana in the afternoon. He is struggling to keep drinking good amounts too.

Im just looking for advice on what I can do to help him get back to eating as he has lost a vast amount of weight, has extreme fatigue and no desire to do anything really.

Thanks in advance xx

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    Hiya. I’m going through similar with my mum. Her eating is really up and down and there’s loads of food she’s gone off of including fruits. I do her scrambled egg which seems to be a winner at the moment and make plenty of jelly’s and always try and and give her some melon, the only fruit she will sometimes eat, that way she’s having plenty of fluids. It’s really hard so I completely get your concern xx

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    Hi DoraJen,

    I am sorry to hear of your dad's struggles. It sounds as if he is having a hard time. Have you asked his Care Team/GP about  build up drinks and puddings? These are available on prescription and come in different flavours. He may not like all of the flavours, but if he can take any of these, they should help to build up his weight. Don't worry about keeping to regular meal times, but give him a little of what he fancies, as often as he can manage, throughout the day. His extreme fatigue and changes in/loss of taste, are normal occurrences after treatment. They should return in time, but they don't always do so.

    Have you tried food which is softy and easy to swallow? Soups, eggs, ice cream, mashed potato and gravy, mashed turnip, porridge. jelly and milky drinks and puddings are examples. Ask to see a Dietician, who can give you other suggestions. It is even more important to keep his fluid intake up, so that he doesn't become dehydrated. Even frequent small sips will help with this.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi DoraJen, sounds like my hubby. A complete 360 in tastes and how much he’ll eat. He did not like the build up drinks or yoghurts, can’t tolerate spicy food which he used to love. Omelettes work with ham and cheese or veg and he can use just a fork x

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