Hi guys. Sending love to you all. We have just lost my mum to this cancer after only 6 months post surgery. My advice push for the chemo after and push for all the scans you can get after too. If this had been possible for mum then she might still be here. Xx

Hi

I too would advise, push push push.  My brother had been visiting his GP since March with fears of this dreadful cancer and was pooh poohed and told it was acid reflux.  Eventually at the end of August he had an endoscopy and a biopsy.  By this time he had lost 1 and half stones in 6 weeks.  He was rushed into hospital on 20th September, and passed away on 25th October without having had any treatment.  I could go into far more detail but would not wish to distress anyone on this forum.  It was obviously too late for him and I find it extremely upsetting that in spite of him doing the right thing and going to his doctor, (and advising the doctor that his paternal grandfather had died of the same disease) he was sent away and not seen to in sufficient time to give him a few months quality of life.  

Make a nuisance of yourself, push and push for scans and tests and treasure every moment you have xx

Morning all, hope you're well.

Does anyone have any tips / advice for food to stock up on in the weekly shop today to help with getting through Round 1 of FLOT next week ?

Any tips on good things to eat / drink to keep strength, energy and weight up throughout would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you !

Hi Redski

Great question - and I wish there was a great answer. This is the bit at the beginning of the roller coaster where you are slowly getting to the top,  not knowing what's on the other side. 

Expect to lose weight in the first week, then bounce back in the second irrespective of what you eat. Your

Taste will probably be affected and what you love now may change, but the usual high fat, high protein foods should help - dairy,  chicken etc. 

For some of us, eating had become a problem and this,  for me, eased off after the 2nd cycle. 

Once you know what works for you, then this will help for the remaining cycles. 

Hi Redski, my Dad has been increasing his intake of fruits and veg by making lots of smoothies (my Dad hasnever been one for much fruit and veg)- investing in a blender is a good idea (we bought a nutribullet and a cold press juicer). This way, you'll be getting plenty of goodness and they're quite easy to swallow - also you can pick what certain foods you're wanting to increase on,- my Dad has plenty of bananas to increase his potassium. Also my Dad has started to have protein bars most days. Our oncologist advised to try and eat very small portions but more often.

Lee

Thank you so much, both - that is very helpful. 

I'll dust off the blender and add some smoothie ingredients to the weekly shopping list as well as some high fat and high protein foods - thank you.

Not quite as tall as you BFG, but at 6' 2" and 100kg it's insightful to know what worked for you at keeping weight up.

Thank you.

Hi Redski,

As.Bfg said it's a case finding what suits you. However smoothies are a great idea. My husband was fortunate to be able to eat, it did get better after 2nd cycle. I cooked meals as normal but made more deserts. Thinks like banana and custard are easy and good. Fruit crumble etc.

Porridge with blueberries/raspberries etc.

Also added garlic and ginger to stir fries. Noodles and pasta seemed easy to eat. Fruit and veg but also cream cakes and high fat foods. It also depends on your starting point. My husband was on the lower side of his BMI but managed to gain weight.  He ate snacks like fruit and nuts, crisps and crackers inbetween meals. Drank whole milk, hot chocolate, Horllicks. Also had peppermint tea and lemon and ginger tea during chemo. Honey and lemon too.

He did feel nauseous at times but anti sickness tablets helped a lot. Chewy ginger seemed to help. He did wear the anti sickness bands on his wrists  (from the chemists).

A rainbow diet is a good way to look at it. Getting some fresh air helped and even a short walk made him feel better. 
I hope this helps.
Keeping the faith 

Milly

This is so helpful too Milly, thank you. I hadn't heard of the bands from the pharmacy but have now bought some to hopefully help me in Round 1 this week - so thanks for mentioning that !

How is everyone getting on ?

Hope you and yours are all well

Hi Redski,

I'm pleased the info helped. A friend whose an ex nurse suggested the bands for my husband, worth a try. I presume that you've got a thermometer as you will need to check your temperature once a day. Something else I thought of was my husband used a heat pad on his throat to help with the side effects of oxaliplatin. Also he used Aveeno to help with dry skin snd Diflam for mouth ulcers. The best thing to do though is to speak to the nurses about any side effects and they will advise. Diflam if you need it can be prescribed.

My husband is still in step down and it feels like I'm tempting fate if I I say too much. So .... so far so good. 

All the Best

Keeping the faith 

Milly 

Hi Milly,

I'll take so far so good. :-)

Well remembered in the thermometer, I forgot about that.

Redski - infection is probably their no 1 concern,  and I bought a cheap and cheerful digital thermometer from an online well known retailer and it did the trick in monitoring. 

Another anology from me is that you are about to enter a forest of potential symptoms and you will get out the other side. You may come up against a number of different ones,  but it's a case of being aware for what they are IF you do. Ray and I for example have very different reactions to the white blood cell booster jabs. 

You are given different tablets to counteract the major symptoms,  but share your symptoms with the team - if something isn't working, there are often alternatives.

Yesterday was our first lunch in our back garden,  and we indulged with a bottle of bubbles called Carpe Diem. We toasted you all.  'nuff said.

Bfg

Cheers bfg... and everyone else.

I am at the hospital right now...my Dad is inside having his second covid jab. The roll out is a bit slower here but nicely catching up.  For a while no one seemed to know whether a cancer patient could have the vaccine but then we got a call and said my Dad was fine to have one particular vaccine- I think it's the maderna one! (Not sure if that's spelt correctly). 

Lee

Hi Bfg and everyone,

Love the bubbles! Perfect and very true! 
 

Hope all that are able to are enjoying this lovely weather over the bank holiday.

Keeping the faith

Milly 

Hi Bfg and everyone,

Love the bubbles! Perfect and very true! 
 

Hope all that are able to are enjoying this lovely weather over the bank holiday.

Keeping the faith

Milly