Mom not eating since being diagnosed. Any ideas to help?

My Mom has been ill for a few weeks before seeing the GP. She has had a diagnosis of gallbladder cancer with secondary tumours in liver, lung, lymph nodes. She has had the diagnosis for a week now. Prior to the diagnosis, she was ill but managing. She was eating, driving, looking after herself. The following days she has stopped eating, getting dressed. She says she feels sick and won't eat. We have to keep asking her to eat otherwise she won't. The change in a few dsys has been dramatic. I'm at a loss to know what to do. She us convinced nothing can be done even though we haven't seen the consultant about her treatment plan. Can you suggest anything which can help us

  • Hello Lisav, 

    It must be so hard to see your mum refusing to eat since the day of the diagnosis. From what you describe, it sounds like the news of the diagnosis has had a deep psychological impact on her and that she feels demotivated to do simple things like eating, getting dressed and looking after herself. I think it might be a good idea to talk to her GP about this and see whether there is anything they can do to help her feel better and regain her appetite. It's great that she has you by her side insisting that she eats a little. Hopefully she will start feeling a bit better once she has seen the consultant and has been given a clear treatment plan. The uncertainty is no doubt making things worse for her. I hope you already have an appointment date. When you see the consultant, it would definitely be worth bringing up the fact that your mum has been very much shaken by the news and has not been eating as a result, that she says she feels sick. The consultant may also have some helpful suggestions for you.

    There is information on gallbladder cancer on our website here which I hope will be useful to you ahead of your mum's appointment. Don't hesitate to give our nurses a call too if you want to talk things through with them. You can reach them on this free number 0808 800 4040 - their line is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. 

    I hope that you will meet others on the forum who have faced a similar situation before. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator