Comfort Advice

Hi, my gorgeous Grandma was diagnosed with lung cancer December last year. At the age of 83 she decided not to have any treatment. Up until about 1 month ago she was doing great then boom its hit her and she has been in hospital ever since and is waiting to go into the hospice. 

She is very breathless and is on constent oxygen.....there is talk of a possible stent into the airway to help her breath tomorrow. 

Me and my Mum go see her everyday and try and get her to eat but she says she cant as she cant get her breath and as she chews her food she feels like its getting bigger in her mouth, she also finds it really hard to swallow as her mouth is so dry. 

I know long term we cant do anything for her other than be there and ensure she is comfy etc but has anyone any advice or recommendations on food that she may find easy to eat or anything to solve the constent dry mouth? 

Thank you 

  • Hi Hun xx 

    sorry to hear this, very sad xx 

    What about sweet things? My grandma didn’t have cancer...she had dementia and was very weak and refusing to eat. So we gave her chocolate mousse, trifle, angel delight type deserts...all of which went down well. Not the most nutritious...but her nurses were ok with it (it was that or nothing....I remember they even let her have a drop of whisky in the care home on occasion. !) xx 

  • Oh I forgot to add we also gave her watermelon (that just kind of dissolved in her mouth...it was so juicy she didn’t have to chew it much) xx

  • Thank you, I wil try the chocolate mousee / trifle tomorrow. A few mouthfuls is more than she is having at the moment! She managed a few strawberrys today so will also try the watermelon too.  

    XX

  • Hi

    Have you tried fortisips? They help as a supplement. I got them via prescription but the hospital should be able to get some. I also tried homemade milk shakes with ice cream and fresh fruit -you can add sugar and cream to add calories. The same for home made soup-just add butter and cream to bulk them up.

    Best wishes

     They save well in a flask.