how to get someone to eat

Hi my husband terminal  kidney cancer had kidney removed back in June 2019 recovered really well started on immunotherapy on 18th September admitted to hospital twice once for 3 days and then a week due to high temperature, came home but this last week he will not eat he is drinking water but very little food tried the drinks from Gp sipped half of 1 and went ill, staying in bed started on steroid yesterday i was hoping to see a diffrence but as yet no,ate a little mashed potatoe and a muller rice i am trying to get him something every 3hours or so but he gets cross and says i am nagging him, but i cant just watch him waste away, he was due to have treatment last Wednesday but now it next Thursday unless there is a dramatic improvement before Thursday i cant see him having treatment then, and by the specialist its his only hope of prolonging his life, i feel so useless, what can i do!! suddenly this illnesses is so real and its taking him away. Sorry to ramble on but i am at my witts end 

  • Hi gutted have you tried those milk shake vitamin drink, can't remember proper name thar supposed to have every thing in them to help keep going.. Good luck... Billy 

  • Hi there ..

    So so sorry your going through this really hard time at the mo .. but it made me remember my brother in law,  he had the same type cancer, and he went from the healthiest , strongest man in out or family to just a shadow of how he used to be .. we all spent so much time trying to get him to eat .. when he really didn't want to .. every mouthful must have been so hard for him .. even sucking chocolate in those last week's made him sick ..

    Looking back I wish we hadn't.. as he tried more for us, then him .. so I'm not telling how or what to do .. everyone is different .. but know he's probly not eating because he can't.. as hard as that is .. just let him sip drinks when he can ... as the mouth gets really dry ... 

    My heart goes out to you .. so sending you a vertual hug...  Chrissie xx

  • Thank you Billygoat and Chriss will try those drinks but he is feeling a little better and has eaten small amounts today i think i just had a wobbly moments and was seeing everything very black so thank you for replying 

  • Hi Gutted.

    So sorry to hear about your husband.

    My dad was very similar, he had very little appetite. We found it helped asking my dad what he wanted to eat. Prior to his passing, he took a liking for fruit and apple juice so we were feeding him things he requested such as watermelon and pineapple. I would also recommend soup, just make sure you puree it down as much as possible so that it is easier for them to consume. Also, things like Weetabix so they don't have to chew much and you can even try making him smoothies at home.

    I pray for his improvement and send you strength.